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A   TREATISE 


THEORY  AND   PRACTICE 

or 

lIndscape  gardening 

ADAPTED  TO 

arti]  ^m^rita;; 


WITH  A  VIEW  TO  THE 

IMPROVEMENT  OF  COUNTRY  RESIDENCES. 

COMPRISING 

HISTORICAL    NOTICES    AND    GENERAL    PUIXCIPLES    OF    THE    ART, 

DIRECrriGNS     FOR     LAYING     OUT     GROUNDS     AND     ARRANGING     PLANTATIONS,    TH^ 

DESCRIPTION   AND    CULTIVATION    OF    HARDY    TREES,    DECORATIVE 

ACCOMPANIMENTS    OF   THE    HOUSE   AND    GROUNDS, 

THE    FORMATION    OF 

PIECES    OF    ARTIFICIAL   WATER,    FLOWER    GARDENS,    ETC. 


KEMARKS  ON  RURAL  ARCHITECTURE. 

JTtftf)   ISUttion, 

ENLARGED,    REVISED,    AND   NEWLY   ILLUSTRATED. 

Bv   A.  J.   DOWNING, 

AUTHOR     OF    DESIGNS    FOR     COTTAGE     RESIDENCES,     KTO. 


Insult  not  Nature  with  absurd  expense. 
Nor  spoil  her  simple  charms  by  vain  pretence ; 
Weigh  well  the  subject,  be  with  caution  bold. 
Profuse  of  genius,  not  profuse  of  gold." 


NEW   YORK: 
O.    M.    SAXTON   AND     COMPANY, 

AGEICULTURAL    BOOK    PUBLISHERS, 

No.  140  Fulton  Street. 

1856. 


entered  accord  ng  to  the  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  ycir  184i(,  iiv 

GEORGE  P.  PUTNAM, 

la  the  Clerk's  Oflice  of  the  Pistrict  Court  for  the  Southern  District  o;  New    lorli 


\ 


REMOTE  STORAGE 

TV 

JOHN    QUINCY    ADAMS,    LL.D., 

EX-PRESIDENT    OF    THE    UNITED    STATES; 

THE    LOVER    OF    RURAL    PURSUITS, 

AS    WELL    AS 

THE      DISTINGUISHED      PATRIOT,      STATESMAN 

AND    sage; 
THIS    VOLUME, 

BY   PERMISSION, 

IS   RESPECTFULLY   AND    AFFECTIONATELY 

DEDICATED, 

BY    HIS    FRIEND, 

THE  AUTHOR. 


469135 


P  E  E  F  A  C  E 

TC      THE     FOURTH      EDITION. 

It  s  even  more  gratifying  to  the  author  of  this  work  to 
know,  from  actual  observation,  that  the  public  taste  in 
Rural  Embellishment  has,  within  a  few  years  past,  made 
the  most  rapid  progress  in  this  country,  than  to  feel  assured 
by  the  call  for  a  fourth  edition,  that  his  own  imperfect 
labors  for  the  accomplishment  of  that  end  have  been  most 
kindly  appreciated. 

In  the  present  edition  considerable  alterations  and 
amendments  have  been  made  in  some  portions — especially 
in  that  section  relating  to  the  nature  of  the  Beautiful  and 
the  Picturesque.  The  difference  among  critics  regarding 
natural  expression  and  its  reproduction  in  Landscape 
Gardening,  has  led  him  more  carefully  to  examine  this 
part  of  the  subject,  in  order,  if  possible,  to  present  it  in 
the  clearest  and  most  definite  manner. 

The  whole  work  has  also  been  revised,  and  more 
copiously  illustrated,  and  is  now  offered  in  a  more  com- 
plete form  than  in  any  previous  edition. 

A.  J.  D. 

Newburgli,  New  York,  Jan.  1849. 


P  E  E  F  A  C  E. 


A  TASTE  for  rural  improvements  of  every  description 
IS  advancing  silently,  but  with  great  rapidity  in  this  country. 
While  yet  in  the  far  west  the  pioneer  constructs  his  rude 
hut  of  logs  for  a  dwelling,  and  sweeps  away  with  his  axe 
the  lofty  forest  trees  that  encumber  the  ground,  in  the 
older  portions  of  the  Union,  bordering  the  Atlantic,  we 
are  surrounded  by  all  the  luxuries  and  refinements  that 
belong  to  an  old  and  long  cultivated  country.  Within  the 
last  ten  years,  especially,  the  evidences  of  the  growing 
wealth  and  prosperity  of  our  citizens  have  become 
apparent  in  the  great  increase  of  elegant  cottage  and  villa 
residences  on  the  banks  of  our  noble  rivers,  along  our 
rich  valleys,  and  wherever  nature  seems  to  invite  us  by 
her  rich  and  varied  charms. 

In  all  the  expenditure  of  means  in  these  improvements, 
amounting  in  the  aggregate  to  an  immense  sum,  pro- 
fessional talent  is  seldom  employed  in  Architecture  or 
Landscape  Gardening,  but  almost  every  man  fancies 
himself  an  amateur,  and  endeavors  to  plan  and  arrange  his 
own  residence.  With  but  little  practical  knowledge,  and 
few  correct  principles  for  his  guidance,  it  is  not  surprising 
that  we  witness  much  incongruity  and  great  waste  of  time 
and  money.  Even  those  who  are  familiar  with  foreign 
works  on  the  subject  in  question  labor  under  many 
obstacles  in  practice,  which  grow  out  of  the  difference  in 
our  soil  and  climate,  or  our  social  and  political  position. 

These  views  have  so  often  presented  themselves  to  me  of 
late,  and  have  been  so  frequently  urged  by  persons 
desiring  advice,  that  I  have  ventured  to  prepare  the  present 
volume,  in   the  hope   of  supplying,    in    some   degree,    the 


Vlll  PREFACE. 

desideratum  so  much  felt  at  present.  While  we  have 
treatises,  in  abundance,  on  the  various  departments  of  the 
arts  and  sciences,  there  has  not  appeared  even  a  single 
essay  on  the  elegant  art  of  Landscape  Gardening.  Hun- 
dreds of  individuals  who  wish  to  ornament  their  grounds 
and  embellish  their  places,  are  at  a  loss  how  to  proceed, 
from  the  want  of  some  leading  principles,  with  the 
knowledge  of  which  they  would  find  it  comparatively  easy 
to  produce  delightful  and  satisfactory  results. 

In  the  following  pages  I  have  attempted  to  trace  out 
such  principles,  and  to  suggest  practicable  methods  of 
embellishing  our  Rural  Residences,  on  a  scale  com- 
mensurate to  the  views  and  means  of  our  proprietors. 
While  I  have  availed  myself  of  the  works  of  European 
authors,  and  especially  those  of  Britain,  where  Landscape 
Gardening  was  first  raised  to  the  rank  of  a  fine  art,  I  have 
also  endeavored  to  adapt  my  suggestions  especially  to  this 
country  and  to  the  peculiar  wants  of  its  inhabitants. 

As  a  people  descended  from  the  English  stock,  we 
inherit  much  of  the  ardent  love  of  rural  life  and  its  pursuits 
which  belongs  to  that  nation  ;  but  our  peculiar  position,  in 
a  new  world  that  required  a  population  full  of  enterprise 
and  energy  to  subdue  and  improve  its  vast  territory,  has, 
until  lately,  left  but  little  time  to  cultivate  a  taste  for  Rural 
Embellishment.  But  in  the  older  states,  as  wealth  has 
accumulated,  the  country  become  populous,  and  society 
more  fixed  in  its  character,  a  return  to  those  simple  and 
fascinating  enjoyments  to  be  found  in  country  life  and 
rural  pursuits,  is  witnessed  on  every  side.  And  to  this 
innate  feeling,  out  of  which  grows  a  strong  attachment  to 
natal  soil,  we  must  look  for  a  counterpoise  to  the  great 
tendency  towards  constant  change,  and  the  restless  spirit 
of  emigration,  which  form  part  of  our  national  character ; 
and  which,  though  to  a  certain  extent  highly  necessary  to 
our  national  pros'^)erity,  are,  on  the  other  hand,  opposed  to 
social  and  domestic  happiness.  "  In  the  midst  of  the 
continual  movement  which  agitates  a  democratic  com- 
munity," says  the  most  philosophical  writer  who  has  yet 
discussed  our  institutions,  "  the  tie  which  unites  one 
generation  to  another   is  relaxed  or  broken  ;  every  man 


PREFACE.  Ul 

readily  loses  the  trace  of  the  ideas  of  his  forefathers,  or 
takes  no  care  about  them." 

pThe  love  of  country  is  inseparably  connected  with  the 
kte  of  home.  Whatever,  therefore,  leads  man  to  assemble 
the  comforts  and  elegancies  of  life  around  his  habitation, 
tends  to  increase  local  attachments,  and  render  domestic 
life  more  delightful;  thus  not  only  augmenting  his  own 
enjoyment,  but  strengthening  his  patriotism,  and  making 
him  a  better  citizeiiT]  And  there  is  no  employment  or 
recreation,  which  aHords  the  mind  greater  or  more 
permanent  satisfaction,  than  that  of  cultivating  the  earth 
and  adorning  our  own  property.  "God  Almighty  first 
planted  a  garden ;  and,  indeed,  it  is  the  purest  of  human 
pleasures,"  says  Lord  Bacon.  And  as  the  first  man  was 
shut  out  from  the  garden,  in  the  cultivation  of  which  no 
alloy  was  mixed  with  his  happiness,  the  desire  to  return  to 
it  seems  to  be  implanted  by  nature,  more  or  less  strongly, 
in  every  heart. 

In  Landscape  Gardening  the  country  gentleman  of 
leisure  finds  a  resource  of  the  most  agreeable  nature. 
While  there  is  no  more  rational  pleasure  than  that  derived 
from  its  practice  by  him,  who 

"  Plucks  life's  roses  in  his  quiet  fields," 

the  enjoyment  drawn  from  it  (unlike  many  other  amuse- 
ments) is  unembittered  by  the  after  recollection  of  pain 
or  injury  inflicted  on  others,  or  the  loss  of  moral  rectitude. 
In  rendering  his  home  more  beautiful,  he  not  only  con- 
tributes to  the  happiness  of  his  own  family,  but  improves 
the  taste,  and  adds  loveliness  to  the  country  at  large. 
There  is,  perhaps,  something  exclusive  in  the  taste  for 
some  of  the  fine  arts.  A  collection  of  pictures,  for 
example,  is  comparatively  shut  up  from  the  world,  in  the 
private  gallery.  But  the  sylvan  and  floral  collections, — 
the  groves  and  gardens,  which  surround  the  country 
residence  of  the  man  of  taste, — are  confined  by  no 
barriers  narrower  than  the  blue  heaven  above  and 
around  them.  The  taste  and  the  treasures,  gradually,  but 
certainly,    creep  beyond   the    nominal   boundaries  of  Xha 


PREFACE. 


estate,  and  re-appear  in  the  pot  of  flowers  in  the  window, 
or  the  luxuriant,  blossoming  vines  which  clamber  over  the 
porch  of  the  humblest  cottage  by  the  way  side. 

In  the  present  volume  I  have  sought,  by  rendering 
familiar  to  the  reader  most  of  the  beautiful  sylvan  ma- 
terials of  the  art,  and  by  describing  their  peculiar  effects 
in  Landscape  Gardening,  to  encourage  a  taste  among 
general  readers.  And  1  have  also  endeavored  to  place 
before  the  amateur  such  directions  and  guiding  principles 
as,  it  is  hoped,  will  assist  him  materially  in  laying  out 
his  grounds  and  arranging  the  general  scenery  of  his 
residence. 

The  lively  interest  of  late  manifested  in  Rural  Architec- 
ture, and  its  close  connexion  with  Landscape  Gardening, 
have  induced  me  to  devote  a  portion  of  this  work  to  the 
consideration  of  buildings  in  rural  scenery. 

I  take  pleasure  in  acknowledging  my  obligations  and 
returning  thanks  to  my  valued  correspondent,  J.  C.  Loudon, 
Esq.,  F.  L.  S.,  etc.,  of  London,  the  most  distinguished 
gardening  author  of  the  age,  for  the  illustrations  and 
description  of  the  English  Suburban  Cottage  in  the 
Appendix;  to  the  several  gentlemen  in  this  country  who 
have  kindly  furnished  me  with  plans  or  drawings  of  their 
residences  ;  and  to  A.  J.  Davis,  Esq.,  of  New  York,  and  J. 
Notman,  Esq.,  of  Philadelphia,  architects,  for  architectural 
drawings  and  descriptions.  . 


CONTENTS 


SECTION  I. 


HISTORICAL    SKETCHES. 


Objects  of  the  art,  page  18.  The  ancient  and  m3dem  styles,  p.  21.  Theil 
peculiarities,  p.  23.  Origin  of  the  modern  and  natural  style,  p.  31.  Influenca 
of  the  English  poets  and  writers,  p.  32.  Examples  of  the  art  abroad,  p.  38. 
Landscape  Gardening  in  North  America,  and  examples  now  existing,  p.  40. 


SECTION   II. 

BEAUTIES    OF    LANDSCAPE    GARDENING. 

Capacities  of  the  art,  p.  61.  The  beauties  of  the  ancient  style,  p.  62. 
The  Beautiful  and  the  Picturesque  ;  their  distinctive  characteristics,  with 
illustrations  drawn  from  nature  and  painting,  p.  63.  Nature  and  principles  of 
Landscape  Gardening  as  an  imitative  art,  p.  66.  The  Production  of  Beautiful 
Landscape,  67.  Of  Picturesque  do.,  68.  Simple  beauty  of  the  art,  p.  78. 
The  principles  of  Unity,  Harmony,  and  Variety,  p.  80. 


SECTION  IIL 

WOOD  AND    PLANTATIONS. 

The  beauty  of  trees  in  rural  embellishments,  p.  85.  Pleasure  resulting  irom 
their  cultivation,  p.  88.  Plantations  in  the  ancient  style  ;  their  formality,  p. 
89.  In  the  modem  style,  p.  94.  Grouping  trees,  p.  95.  Arrangement  and 
grouping  in  the  Graceful  school,  p.  101.     In  the  Picturesque  school,  p.  102 


Ill  CONTENTS. 

Illustrations  in  planting  villa,  ferme  ornee,  and  cottage  grounds,  p.  113 
Ueneral  classification  of  trees  as  to  forms,  with  leading  characteristics  of  each 
/•lass,  p.  123. 

SECTION  IV. 

DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES. 

The  history  and  description  of  all  the  finest  hardy  deciduous  trees.  Re- 
marks on  their  effects  in  Landscape  Gardening,  individually,  and  in  composi- 
tion ;  their  cultivation,  etc.  The  oak,  p.  139.  The  elm,  p.  152.  The  plane  or 
buttonwood,  p.  158.  The  ash,  p.  162.  The  lime  or  linden,  p.  167.  The 
beech,  p.  171.  The  poplar,  p.  175.  The  horse  chestnut,  p.  181.  The 
birch,  p.  184.  The  alder,  p.  189.  The  maple,  p.  191.  The  locust,  p.  196. 
The  three-thoroed  acacia,  p.  200.  The  Judas  tree,  p.  202.  The  chestnut,  p. 
204.  The  Osage  orange,  p.  209.  The  mulberry,  p.  211.  The  paper-mul- 
berry, p.  214.  The  sweet  gum,  p.  215.  The  walnut,  p.  218.  The  hickory, 
p.  222.  The  mountain  ash,  p.  226.  The  ailantus,  p.  230.  The  Kentucky 
coffee,  p.  232.  The  willow,  p.  234.  The  sassafras,  p.  241.  The  catalpa,  p. 
242.  The  persimon,  p.  244.  The  peperidge,  p.  246.  The  thorn,  p.  248. 
The  magnolia,  p.  250.  The  tulip-tree,  p.  255.  The  dogwood,  p.  259.  The 
ginko,  p.  261.  The  American  cypress,  p.  264.  The  larch,  p.  268.  The 
Virgilia,  p.  276.     The  Paulownia,  p.  278. 


SECTION  V. 

EVERGREEN    ORNAMENTAL    TREES. 

The  history  and  description  of  all  the  finest  hardy  evergreen  trees.  Re- 
marks on  their  efiects  in  Landscape  Gardening,  individually  and  in  composi- 
tion. Their  cultivation,  etc.  The  pines,  p.  280.  The  firs,  p.  290.  The 
cedar  of  Lebanon,  and  Deodar  cedar,  p.  296.  The  red  cedar,  p.  300.  The 
arbor  vitic,  p.  301.     The  holly,  p.  304.     The  yew,  p.  306. 


SECTION  VI. 

VINES    AND     CLIMBING     PLANTS. 

Value  of  this  kind  of  vegetation ; — fine  natural  effects,  p.  312.  The 
European  ivy,  p.  316.  The  Virginia  creeper,  p.  316.  The  wild  grape-vine, 
p.  317.     The  bittersweet, — the  trumpet  creeper,  p.  317.     The  pipe  vine,  p. 


CONTENTS.  Xlll 

318.  The  clematis, — the  wistaria,  p.  319.  The  honeysuckles  and  wood 
bines,  p.  320.  The  climbing  roses,  p.  322.  The  jasmine  and  periploca,  p 
323.  Remarks  on  the  proper  mode  of  introducing  vines,  p.  324.  Beautifui 
effects  of  climbing  plants  in  connexion  with  buildings,  p.  325. 


SECTION  VII. 

TREATMENT   OF    GROUND FORMATION    OF    WALKS. 

Nature  of  operations  on  ground,  p.  327.  Treatment  of  flowing  and  of 
irregular  surfaces  to  heighten  their  expression,  p.  328, — of  flats  or  level 
surfaces,  p.  331.  Rocks,  as  materials  in  landscape,  p.  334.  Laying  out 
roads  and  walks  ;  the  approach,  p.  336.  Rules  by  Repton,  p.  339.  The 
drive  and  minor  walks,  p.  341.  The  introduction  of  fences,  p.  343.  Ver- 
dant hedges,  p.  344. 


SECTION  VIII. 

TREATMENT   OF     WATER. 

Beautiiul  effects  of  this  element  in  nature,  p.  347.  In  what  cases  it  is  de- 
sirable to  attempt  the  formation  of  artificial  pieces  of  water,  p.  348.  Regular 
forms  unpleasing,  p.  350.  Directions  for  the  formation  of  ponds  or  lakes  in 
the  irregular  manner,  p.  351.  Study  of  natural  lakes,  352.  Islands,  p.  358. 
Planting  the  margin,  p.  360.  Treatment  of  natural  brooks  and  rivulets,  p. 
363.  Cascades  and  water-falls,  364.  Legitimate  sphere  of  the  art  in  this 
department,  p.  366. 


SECTION  IX. 

LANDSCAPE    OR    RURAL    ARCHITECTURE. 

Difference  between  a  city  and  country  house,  p.  369.  The  characteristic 
features  of  a  country  house,  p.  370.  Examination  of  the  leading  principles  in 
Rural  Architecture,  p.  371.  The  harmonious  union  of  buildings  and  scenery, 
377.  The  different  styles,  p.  380.  The  Grecian  style,  its  merits  and  associa- 
tions, p.  381.  Its  defects  for  domestic  purposes,  p.  382.  The  Roman  style. 
The  Italian  style,  p.  385  ; — its  peculiar  features,  and  examples  in  this  country, 
p.  388.  Associations  of  the  Italian  stylo,  p.  390.  Swiss  style,  p.  392.  The 
pointed  or  Gothic  style, — leading  features,  p.  693.  Castellated  buildings,  p. 
396.     The  Tudor  mansion,  p.  398.     Examples  here,  p.  400.     The   Eliza- 


XIV  CONTENTS. 

bethau  style,  p.  401.  The  old  English  cottage, — its  features,  p.  402.  Asso 
ciations  of  the  pointed  style,  p.  405.  Examples  in  this  country,  p.  409 
Individual  tastes,  p.  411.     Entrance  lodges,  p.  412. 


SECTION  X. 

EMBELLISHMENTS  ;    ARCHITECTURAL,    RUSTIC,  AND  FLORAL. 

Value  of  a  proper  connexion  between  the  house  and  grounds,  p.  419. 
Beauty  of  the  architectural  terrace,  and  its  application  to  villas  and  cottages,  p. 
420.  Use  of  vases  of  different  descriptions,  p.  424.  Sundials,  p.  427. 
Architectural  flower-garden,  p.  428.  Irregular  flower-garden,  p.  429. 
French  flower-garden,  p.  430.  English  flower-garden,  p.  430.  Mingled 
flower-garden,  p.  437.  General  remarks  on  this  subject,  p.  437.  Selec- 
tions of  showy  plants,  flowering  in  succession,  p.  438.  Arrangement  of 
the  shrubbery,  and  selection  of  choice  shrubs,  p.  442.  The  conservatory  and 
green-house,  448.  Open  and  covered  seats,  p.  454.  Pavilions,  p.  456.  Rus- 
tic seats,  p.  456.  Prospect  towers,  p.  459.  Bridges,  p.  460.  Rockwork,  p. 
461.  Fountains  of  various  descriptions,  p.  466.  Judicious  introduction  of 
decorations,  p.  472. 


APPENDIX,. 

I.  Notes  on  transplanting  trees,  p.  475.  Reasons  for  frequent  failures  in 
emoving  large  trees,  p.  476.     Directions  for  performing  this  operation,  p. 

478.     Selection  of  subjects,  p.  479.     Preparing  trees  for  removal,  p.  481. 
Transplanting  evergreens,  p.  482. 

II.  Description  of  an  English  suburban  residence,  Cheshunt  Cottage,  p. 
484.  With  >-iews  and  plans  showmg  the  arrangement  of  the  house  and 
grounds,  p.  485.     And  mode  of  managing  the  whole  premises,  p.  487. 

III.  Note  on  the  treatment  of  Lawns,  p.  525. 

IV.  Note  on  professional  quackery,  p.  527. 

V.  Note  on  roads  and  walks,  p.  530. 


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ESSAY  ON   LANDSCAPE   GARDENING 


SECTION  I. 

HISTORICAL     SKETCHES. 

Objects  of  the  Art.  The  ancient  and  modem  styles.  Their  peculiarities.  Sketch  of  the 
ancient  style,  and  the  rise  and  progress  of  the  modern  style.  Influence  of  ihe  English 
poets  and  writers.  Examples  of  the  art  abroad.  Landscape  GaiJening  in  Nortt 
America,  and  examples  now  existing. 

"  L'un  a  nos  yeux  presente 
D'un  dessein  regulier  I'ordonnance  imposante, 
Prete  aux  champs  des  beautes  qu'ils  ne  connaissaient  pas, 
D'une  pompe  etrangere  embellit  leur  appas, 
Donne  aux  arbres  des  lois,  aux  ondes  des  entraves, 
Et,  despote  orgueilleux,  brille  entoure  d'esclaves ; 
Son  air  est  moins  riant  et  plus  majestueux 
L'autre,  de  la  nature  amant  respectueux, 
L'orne  sans  la  farder,  traite  avec  indulgence 
Ses  caprices  charmants,  sa  noble  negligence, 
Sa  marche  irreguliere,  et  fait  naitre  avec  art 
Des  beautes  du  dtsordre,  et  meme  du  hasard." 

Delille. 


U  R  firsi  most 
endearing  and 
most  sacred  associations,"  says  the  amiable  Mrs.  Holland, 
"are  connected  with  gardens;  our  most  simple  and  most 


20  LANDSCAPE    GARDENING. 

residences  in  the  country,  its  principles  may  be  studiea 
with  advantage,  even  by  him  who  has  only  three  trees  to 
plant  for  ornament ;  and  we  hope  no  one  will  think  his 
grounds  too  small,  to  feel  willing  to  add  something  to  the 
general  amount  of  beauty  in  the  country.  If  the  possessor 
of  the  cottage  acre  would  embellish  in  accordance  with 
propriety,  he  must  not,  as  we  have  sometimes  seen,  rendei 
the  whole  ridiculous  by  aiming  at  ambitious  and  costly  em- 
beUishments  ;  but  he  will  rather  seek  to  delight  us  by  the 
good  taste  evinced  in  the  tasteful  simplicity  of  the  whole 
arrangement.  And  if  the  proprietors  of  our  country  villas, 
in  their  improvements,  are  more  likely  to  run  into  any  one 
error  than  another,  we  fear  it  will  be  that  of  too  great  a 
desire  for  display — too  many  vases,  temples,  and  seats, — 
and  too  little  purity  and  simpHcity  of  general  effect. 

The  inquiring  reader  will  perhaps  be  glad  to  have  a 
glance  at  the  history  and  progress  of  the  art  of  tasteful 
gardening  ;  a  recurrence  to  which,  as  well  as  to  the  history 
of  the  fine  arts,  will  afford  abundant  proof  that,  in  the  firs' 
.stage  or  infancy  of  all  these  arts,  while  the  perception  of 
their  ultimate  capabiUties  is  yet  crude  and  imperfect,  man- 
kind has,  in  every  instance,  been  completely  satisfied  with 
the  mere  exhibition  of  design  or  art.  Thus  in  Sculpture 
the  first  statues  were  only  attempts  to  imitate  rudely  the 
form  of  a  human  figure,  or  in  painting,  to  represent  that  of 
a  tree :  the  skill  of  the  artist,  in  effecting  an  imitation  suc- 
cessfully, being  suflUcient  to  excite  the  astonishment  and 
admiration  of  those  who  had  not  yet  made  such  adv&nces 
as  to  enable  them  o  appreciate  the  superior  beauty  of 
expression. 

Landscape  Gardening  is,  indeed,  only  a  modeiT.  word, 
first  coined,  we  believe,  by  Shenstone,  since  iht  art  has 


HISTORICAL    NOTICES.  21 

been  based  upon  natural  beauty  ;  but  as  an  extensively  em- 
bellished scene^  filled  with  rare  trees,  fountains,  and  statues 
may,  however  artificial,  be  termed  a  landscape  garden 
the  classical  gardens  are  fairly  included  in  a  retrospective 
view. 

All  late  authors  agree  in  these  two  distinct  and  widely 
diflferent  modes  of  the  art ;  1st,  the  Ancient,  Formal,  or 
Geometric  Style ;  2d,  the  Modern,  Natural,  or  Irregular 
Style. 

The  Ancient  Style.  A  predominance  of  regular  forms 
and  right  lines  is  the  characteristic  feature  of  the  ancient 
style  of  gardening.  The  value  of  art,  of  power,  and  of 
wealth,  were  at  once  easily  and  strongly  shown  by  an  arti- 
ficial arrangement  of  all  the  materials  ;  an  arrangement  the 
more  striking,  as  it  differed  most  widely  from  nature.  And 
in  an  age  when  costly  and  stately  architecture  was  most 
abundant,  as  in  the  times  of  the  Roman  empire,  it  is  natural 
to  suppose,  that  the  symmetry  and  studied  elegance  of  the 
palace,  or  the  villa,  would  be  transferred  and  continued  in 
the  surrounding  gardens. 

Nothing  fills  so  grand  a  place  in  the  history  of  the  gar- 
dening of  antiquity,  as  the  great  hanging  gardens  of  Baby- 
lon. A  series  of  terraces  supported  by  stone  pillars,  rising 
one  above  the  other  three  hundred  feet  in  height,  and 
planted  with  rows  of  all  manner  of  stately  trees,  shrubs  and 
flowers,  interspersed  with  seats,  and  watered  and  supplied 
with  fountains  from  the  Euphrates  ;  all  this  was  indeed  a 
princely  effort  of  the  great  king,  to  recall  to  his  Median 
queen  the  beauties  of  her  native  country.  The  "  Paradises" 
of  the  Persians  seem  not  only  to  have  had  straight  walks 
bordered  with  blossoming  trees,  and  overhung  with  exqui- 
site lines  of  roses  and  other  odoriferous  shrubs,  but  to  have 


22  LANDSCAPE    GARDENING. 

been  interspersed  with  occasional  thickets,  and  varied  with 
fountanis,  prospect  towers,  and  aviaries  for  singing  birds. 

The  Athenians  borrowed  their  taste  in  gardens  from 
Persia.  The  lime  tree  and  the  box  lined  their  walks,  and 
bore  patiently  the  shears  of  symmetry ;  and  a  passion  for 
fragrant  flowers  seems  to  have  been  greatly  indulged 
by  them.  Their  most  celebrated  philosophers  made  the 
sylvan,  or  landscape  gardens  of  their  time,  their  favorite 
schools.  And  the  gardens  of  Epicurus  and  Plato  appear 
to  have  been  symmetrical  groves  of  the  olive,  plane,  and 
elm,  enriched  by  elegant  statues,  monuments,  and  temples, 
the  beauty  of  which,  for  their  peculiar  purpose,  has  never 
been  surpassed  by  any  example  of  more  modern  times. 
Among  the  Romans,  ornamental  gardening  seems  to  have 
been  not  a  little  studied.  The  villas  of  the  Emperors  Nero 
and  Adrian  were  enriched  with  everything  magnificent 
and  pleasing  in  their  grounds  ;  and  the  classically  famous 
villas  of  Cicero  at  Arpinum,  and  of  Pliny  at  Tusculum, 
with  Caesar's 

"  Private  arbors,  and  new  planted  orchards. 
On  this  side  Tiber," 

are  among  the  most  celebrated  specimens  of  the  taste, 
among  the  ancients.  Phny's  garden,  of  which  a  pretty 
minute  account  remains, — filled  with  cypresses  and  bay 
trees,  planted  to  form  a  coursing  place  or  hippodrome, 
adorned  with  vis-a-vis  figures  of  animals  cut  in  box  trees, 
and  decorated  with  fountains  and  marble  alcoves,  shaded 
by  vines — seems,  indeed,  to  have  been  the  true  classical 
type  of  all  the  later  efforts  of  modern  continental  nations 
in  their  geometric  gardens. 
Of  the  latter,  the  Italians  have  been  most  successful  in 


HISTORICAL    NOTICED.  23 

their  ornamental  grounds.  Tiieir  beautiful  marbles  seem 
to  have  been  supplied  by  Art  in  too  great  profusion  to  be 
confined  even  to  the  colonnades  of  their  villas,  and  broad 
enriched  terraces,  vases,  and  statues,  everywhere  enliven, 
and  contrast  with,  the  verdure  of  the  foliage ;  trees  and 
plants  being  often  less  abundant  than  the  sculptural  orna- 
ments which  they  serve  to  set  off  to  advantage.  An  island 
— Isola  Bella — in  one  of  their  little  lakes,  has  often  been 
quoted  as  the  most  highly  wrought  type  of  the  Italian 
taste  ;  "  a  barren  rock,"  says  a  spirited  writer,  "  rising  in  the 
midst  of  a  lake,  and  producing  but  a  few  poor  lichens,  which 
has  been  converted  into  a  pyramid  of  terraces  supported  on 
arches,  and  ornamented  with  bays  and  orange  trees  of 
amazing  size  and  beauty."'  The  Villa  Borghese,  at  Rome, 
is  one  of  the  most  celebrated  later  examples,  with  its 
pleasure  grounds  three  miles  in  circumference,  filled  with 
symmetrical  walks,  and  abounding  with  an  endless  pro 
fusion  of  sculpture. 

The  old  French  gardens  differ  little  from  those  of  Italy, 
if  we  except  that,  with  the  same  formality,  they  have  more 
of  theatrical  display — frequently  substituting  gilt  trellises 
and  wooden  statues  for  the  exquisite  marble  balustrades 
and  sculptured  ornaments  of  the  Italians.  But  we  must 
not  forget  the  crowning  glory  of  the  Geometric  style,  the 
gardens  of  Louis  XIV.  at  Versailles.  A  prince  whose  grand 
idea  of  a  royal  garden  was  not  compassed  under  two  hun- 
dred acres  devoted  to  that  purpose,  and  who,  when  shown 
the  bills  of  cost  in  their  formation,  amounting  to  two  hun- 
dred millions  of  francs,  quietly  threw  them  into  the  fire, 
could  scarcely  fail,  whatever  the  style  of  art  adopted,  in 
producing  a  scene  of  great  splendor.  He  was  fortunate,  too, 
in  his  gardener,  Le  Notre,  whose  ideas,  scarcely  less  superb 


24  LANDSCAPE    GARDENING. 

than  those  of  his  master,  kept  pace  so  closely  with  his 
fancies,  that  he  received  the  honor  of  knighthood,  and  was 
made  general  director  of  all  the  buildings  and  gardens  ol 
the  time. 

"  The  gardens  of  Versailles,"  says  a  tasteful  English 
reviewer,  "  may  mdeed  be  taken  as  the  great  exemplar  of 
this  style ;  and  magnificent  indeed  they  are,  if  expense 
and  extent  and  variety  suffice  to  make  up  magnificence. 
To  draw  petty  figures  in  dwarf-box  and  elaborate  pat- 
terns in  parti-colored  sand,  might  well  be  dispensed  with 
where  the  formal  style  was  carried  out  on  so  grand  a  scale 
as  this,  but  otherwise  the  designs  of  Le  Notre  differ  little 
from  that  of  his  predecessors  in  the  geometric  style,  save  in 
their  monstrous  extent.  The  great  wonder  of  Versailles 
was  the  well  known  labyrinth,  not  such  a  maze  as  is  really 
the  source  of  so  much  idle  amusement  at  Hampton  Court, 
but  a  mere  ravel  of  interminable  walks,  closely  fenced  in 
with  high  hedges,  in  which  thirty-nine  of  iEsop's  fables 
were  represented  by  painted  copper  figures  of  birds  and 
beasts,  each  group  connected  with  a  separate  fountain,  and 
all  spouting  water  out  of  their  mouths !  Every  tree  was 
planted  with  geometrical  exactnes.'?,  and  parterre  answered 
to  parterre  across  half  a  mile  of  gravel.  '  Such  symmetry,' 
says  Lord  Byron,  '  is  not  for  solitude ;'  and  certainly,  the 
gardens  of  Versailles  were  not  planted  with  any  such  in- 
tent. The  Parisians  do  not  throng  there  for  the  contempla- 
tion to  be  found  in  the  '  trim  gardens '  of  Milton.  There 
is  indeed  a  melancholy,  but  not  a  pleasing  one,  in  wander- 
ng  alone,  throucfh  those  manv  acres  of  formal  hornbeam, 
when  we  feel  that  it  requires  the  'galliard  and  clinquant' 
air  of  a  scene  of  Watteau  ;  its  crowds  and  love-making — its 
noops  and  minuets — a  ringing  laugh  and  merry  tamborine 


HISTOIIICAL    NOTICES.  25 

— to  make  us  recognise  the  real  genius  of  the  place 
Taking  Versailles  on  the  gigantic  type  of  the  French 
school  it  need  scarcely  be  said  that  it  embraces  broad 
gravelled  terraces,  long  alleys  of  yew  and  hornbeam,  vast 
orangeries,  groves  planted  in  the  quincunx  style,  and 
water-works  embellished  with,  and  conducted  through 
every  variety  of  sculptured  ornament.  It  takes  the  middle 
line  between  the  two  other  geometric  schools — admitting 
more  sculpture  and  other  works  of  art  than  the  Italian,  but 
not  overpowered  with  the  same  number  of  'huge  masses 
of  littleness  '  as  the  Dutch.  There  is  more  of  promenade, 
less  of  parterre;  more  gravel  than  turf;  more  of  the  de- 
ciduous than  the  evergreen  tree.  The  practical  water-wit 
of  drenching  the  spectators  was  in  high  vogue  in  the 
ancient  French  gardens ;  and  Evelyn,  in  his  account  of 
the  Duke  de  Richelieu's  villa,  describes  with  some  relish 
how  '  on  going,  two  extravagant  musketeers  shot  at  us 
with  a  stream  of  water  from  their  musket  barrels.'  Con 
trivances  for  dousing  the  visitors — '  especially  the  ladies' — 
which  once  filled  so  large  a  space  in  the  catalogue  of  every 
show  place,  seem  to  militate  a  little  against  the  national 
character  of  gallantry ;  but  the  very  fact  that  everything 
was  done  to  surprise  the  spectator  and  stranger,  evinces 
how  different  was  their  idea  of  a  garden  from  the  home  and 
familiar  pleasures  which  an  Englishman  looks  to  in  his." 

It  is  scarcely  necessary  for  us  to  say,  that  this  new  splen- 
dor of  the  French  in  their  gardens  was  more  or  less  copied, 
at  the  time,  all  over  Europe.  "  Ainsi  font  les  Francais — 
voila  ce  que  fai  vu  en  France,"  was  the  law  of  fashion  in 
the  gardening  taste  from  which  there  was  no  higher  court 
of  appeal.  But,  in  copying,  every  nation  seems  to  have 
mingled  with  the  "grand  style"  s^me  elementary  notiong 


26  LANDSCAPE    C,  MIDENING. 

of  its  own,  expressive  of  national  character  or  localit}' 
The  most  marked  of  these  imitators  were  the  Dutch, 
whose  style  of  ornamental  gardening  seems  sufficiently 
unique  to  be  worthy  of  being  considered  a  separate  school. 
And  how  shall  we  characterize  the  Dutch  school,  which 
even  to  this  day,  in  the  Low  Countries,  has  scarcely  given 
way  to  the  continental  admiration  for  the  "jai'din  Anglais;" 
this  double  distilled  compound  of  labored  symmetry,  regu- 
larity, and  stiffness,  wdiich  seems  to  convey  to  the  quiet  own- 
ers so  much  pleasure,  and  to  the  tasteful  traveller  and  critic 
so  much  despair !  A  stagnant  and  muddy  canal,  with  a  bridge 
thrown  over  it,  and  often  connected  with  a  circular  fish- 
pond ;  a  grass  slope  and  a  mound  of  green  turf,  on  which 
is  a  pleasure  or  banqueting  house  with  gilt  ornaments ;  num- 
berless clipped  trees,  and  every  variety  of  trellis-w^ork  lively 
with  green  paint ;  in  the  foreground  beds  of  gay  bulbs  and 
florists'  flowers,  interspersed  with  huge  orange  trees  in  tubs, 
and  in  the  distance  smooth  green  meadows — such  are  the 
unvarying  features  of  the  Hollander's  garden  or  gi'ounds.* 
The  true  Dutchman  looks  upon  his  garden  as  a  quiet  place 
to  smoke  and  be  "  content"  in ;  if  he  lazily  saunters  through, 
it  is  rather  to  enjoy  the  gay  pencilUngs  of  some  new  bed  of 
tulips  than  to  enjoy  the  elegance  and  harmony  of  its  design, 
the  variety  of  scenery,  or  the  freshness  and  beauty  of  the 
foliage.  At  the  same  time,  he  is  neither  exclusive  nor  secret 
with  the  stores  of  enjoyment  which  he  has  within  its  bounds  ; 
and  very  many  of  the  private  villas  near  Rotterdam,  and  in 
other  parts  of  Holland,  have  mottoes  like  those  inscribed 

*  In  the  neighborhood  of  Antwerp,  not  a  long  time  since,  was  the  villa 
of  M.  Smetz,  where,  among  many  things  that  were  pretty,  was  the  odd  con- 
ceit of  a  lawn  on  which  were  a  shepherd,  his  flock  of  sheep,  and  his  dog 
cut  m  stone,  and  always  looking  "  pastoral  and  countr)--like." 


HISTORICAL    NOTICES. 


27 


over  the  gateways—'-  Tranquil  and  Content,"  "  My  desire 
is  satisfied" — (genegentheiel  is  volden) — "Friendship  and 
sociability,"  and  numerous  others  of  a  similar  import. 

As  modern  landscape  gardening  owes  its  existence  al- 
most entirely  to  the  English,  we  must  take  a  rapid  glance 
at  the  early  condition  of  the  art  in  Great  Britain,  and  its 
subsequent  development  to  the  present  time. 

It  would  appear  to  be  an  undeniable  fact  in  the  history 
of  ornamental  gardening  that,  from  the  time  of  William  the 
Conqueror  down  to  the  latter  part  of  the  reign  of  Queen 
Anne,  and  the  beginning  of  that  of  George  I.,  nothing  was 
considered  garden  scenery  except  it  was  in  the  formal  and 
geometric  style. 

The  royal  gardens  of  Henry  VIII.,  at  Nonsuch  Palace, 
laid  out  in  the  beginning  of  the  sixteenth  century,  may  per- 
haps be  taken  as  a  type  of  the  highest  ideal  of  a  garden  at 
that  period.  Heutzner,  in  speaking  of  this  place,  after 
describing  it  as  abounding  in  every  species  of  costly  mag- 
nificence, adds, — 

"  This,  which  no  equal  has  in  art  or  fame, 
Britons  deservedly  do  Nonsuch  name." 

Loudon  remarks  that  '-'these  gardens  are  stated,  in  a 
survey  taken  in  the  year  1650,  above  a  century  after 
Henry's  death,  to  have  been  cut  and  divided  into  several 
alleys,  compartments,  and  rounds,  set  about  with  thorn 
hedges.  On  the  north  side  was  a  kitchen  garden,  very 
commodious,  and  surrounded  with  a  wall  fourteen  feet  high. 
On  the  west  was  a  wilderness  severed  from  the  little  park 
by  a  hedge,  the  whole  containing  ten  acres.  In  the  privy 
gardens  were  fountains  and  basins  of  marble,  one  of  which 
s  '  set  round  with  six  lilac  trees,  which  trees  bear  no  fruit, 


28  LANDSCAPE    GARDENING. 

but  only  a  pleasant  smell.'  In  the  kitchen  garden  were 
seventy-two  fruit  trees  and  one  lime  tree.  Lastly,  before 
the  palace,  was  a  neat  handsome  bowling-green,  surrounded 
with  a  balustrade  of  freestone."  Another  writer,  describing 
Nonsuch  when  in  perfection,  says,  "  In  the  pleasure  and 
artificial  gardens  are  many  columns  and  pyramids  of  mar- 
ble, two  fountains  that  spout  water,  one  round  and  the 
other  like  a  pyramid,  upon  which  are  perched  small  birds 
that  stream  water  out  of  their  bills.  There  is  besides 
another  pyramid  of  marble  full  of  concealed  pipes,  which 
spirt  upon  all  who  come  within  their  reach." 

In  the  reign  of  Elizabeth  "  trim  gardens"  seem  to  have 
been  in  high  favor.  Hatfield  was  one  of  the  great  estates 
of  that  period,  and  its  gardens  were  described  as  "  surround- 
ed by  a  piece  of  water,  with  boats  rowing  through  alleys  oj 
well  cut  trees,  and  labarynths  made  with  great  labor. 
There  are  jets  d'eau,  and  a  summer  house,  with  many 
pleasant  and  fair  fish  ponds."  The  Gardener's  Laharynth, 
a  work  intended  to  direct  the  taste  of  that  day  (1571), 
gives  plates  of  "knotts  and  mazes  curiously  handled  for 
the  beautifying  of  gardens.'"' 

During  the  reign  of  James  I.  many  fine  country  seats 
were  either  created  or  improved.  Both  the  descriptions 
and  the  engravings  of  gardens  of  that  period  agree  in  pla- 
cing before  us  grounds  surrounded  by  high  walls,  divided 
into  regular  squares,  compartments,  or  parterres,  and  orna- 
mented with  all  kinds  of  trained  and  clipped  trees,  inter- 
spersed with  statues — and,  in  the  finest  examples,  not 
omitting  that  delightful  puzzle  of  the  time  a  "  labarynth." 

Lord  Bacon  attempted  to  reform  the  national  taste 
during  this  reign,  but  apparently  with  little  immediate 
success.     He  wished  still  to  retain  shorn  trees  and  hedges, 


HISTORICAL    NOTICES.  29 

but  proposed  winter  or  evergreen  gardens,  and  rude  or 
neglected  spots,  as  specimens  of  wild  nature.  "  As  for  the 
making  of  knots  or  figures,"  says  he,  "  with  divers  colored 
earths,  they  be  but  toys.  I  do  not  like  images  cut  out  in 
juniper  or  other  garden  stuff:  they  are  for  children."* 

One  gets  a  condensed  idea  of  the  taste  of  this  and  the 
previous  century  or  two  by  a  work  published  at  Oxford  by 
Commenius  during  the  Commonwealth.  "Gardening," 
says  he,  "  is  practised  for  food's  sake  in  a  kitchen  garden 
and  orchard,  or  for  pleasure's  sake  in  a  green  grass-plot  and 
an  arbor."  In  his  details  of  the  ornamental  garden  he 
adds,  "  the  pleacher  (topiarius)  prepares  a  green  plat  ot 
the  more  choice  flowers  and  rarer  plants,  and  adorns  the 
garden  with  pleach-work  ;  that  is,  with  pleasant  walks  and 
bowers,  &c.,  to  conclude  with  water-works."  He  also  in- 
forms us,  respecting  the  parks,  that  "  the  huntsman 
hunteth  wild  harts,  whilst  he  either  allureth  them  into  pit- 
falls, or  killeth  them,  and  what  he  gets  alive  he  puts  into  a 
park." 

In  the  reign  of  Charles  II.  the  fame  of  Versailles,  the 
most  superb  of  all  geometric  gardens,  created  a  sensation 
in  England.  Le  Notre  was  of  course  immediately  sent  for 
by  this  monarch.  He  planted  St.  James  and  Greenwich 
parks,  and  thus  aided  by  royal  patronage,  inspired  the  no- 
bility with  a  desire  for  some  of  the  more  splendid  formations 
of  the  French  school  of  design.  Chatsworth,  the  magnifi- 
cent seat  of  the  Duke  of  Devonshire,  was  laid  out  in  a 
grandly  formal  manner,  and  the  Earl  of  Essex  and  Lord 
Capel  were  among  the  foremost  to  emulate  the  glories  oi 
Versailles  in  their  country  places — the  former  nobleman 

•  Encyclopedia  of  Gardening. 


30  LANDSCAPE    GARDENING. 

sendinor  his  gardener  (Rose)  to  France,  in  order  to  make 
h'msclf  thoroughly  acquainted  with  all  the  beauties  of  that 
Royal  garden. 

The  period  of  William  and  Mary's  reign  was  remarkable 
for  no  great  deviation  from  this  style,  except  perhaps  in 
substituting  partially  the  Dutch  formalities — such  as  iron 
trellis-work,  clipped  yews,  and  a  greater  profusion  of  ver- 
dant sculpture.  Embroidered  parterres  and  vegetable  sculp- 
ture are  said  indeed  to  have  arrived  at  their  highest 
perfection  in  this  period,  or  towards  the  year  1700 ;  and 
we  may  get  a  good  notion  of  the  subjects  most  in  vogue, 
by  an  extract  from  Pope's  keen  satire,  written  as  late  as 
1713  (in  the  early  part  of  Anne's  reign),  when  it  was  be- 
ginning to  get  into  disrepute. 

Inventory  of  a  Virtuoso  Gardener.  Adam  and  Eve 
in  yew  ;  Adam,  a  little  shattered  by  the  fall  of  the  tree 
of  knowledge  in  the  great  storm  ;  Eve  and  the  serpent, 
very  flourishing.  Noah's  ark  in  Holly  ;  the  ribs  a 
little  damaged  for  want  of  water. 

The  tower  of  Babel,  not  yet  finished. 

St.  George,  in  box  ;  his  arm  scarce  long  enough,  but  will 
be  in  a  condition  to  stick  the  dragon  by  next  April. 

Edward  the  Black  Prince,  in  cypress. 

A  pair  of  giants  stunted,  to  be  sold  cheap. 

An  old  maid  of  honor,  in  wormwood. 

A  topping  Ben  Jonson,  in  laurel. 

Divers  eminent  modern  poets,  in  bays ;  somewhat 
blighted. 

A  quick  set  hog,  shot  up  into  a  porcupine,  by  being 
forgot  a  week  in  rainy  weather. 

A  lavender  pig,  with  sage  growing  in  his  belly. 

Whatever  may  have  been  the  absurdities  of  the  ancient 
style,  it  is  not  to  be  denied  that  in  connexion  with  highly 
decorated  architecture,  its  effect,  when  in  the  best  taste — 
as  the  Italian — is  not  only  splendid  and  striking,  but  highly 
suitable  and  appropriate.     Sir  Walter  Scott,  in  an  essay 


HISTORICAL    NOTICES.  31 

on  landscape  embellishment,  says,  "if  we  approve  of  Pal- 
laJian  architecture,  the  vases  and  balustrades  of  Vitruvius. 
the  enriched  entablatures  and  superb  stairs  of  the  Italian 
school  of  gardening,  we  must  not,  on  this  account,  be  con- 
strued as  vindicating  the  paltry  imitations  of  the  Dutch, 
who  clipped  yews  into  monsters  of  every  species,  and  re- 
lieved them  with  painted  wooden  figures.  The  distinction 
between  the  Italian  and  Dutch  is  obvious.  A  stone  hewn 
into  a  gracefully  ornamented  vase  or  urn,  has  a  value 
which  it  did  not  before  possess  :  a  yew  hedge  clipped  into 
a  fortification,  is  only  defaced.  The  one  is  a  production  of 
art,  the  other  a  distortion  of  nature." 

It  must  not  be  forgotten  that,  during  all  this  period,  or 
nearly  six  centuries,  parks  were  common  in  England. 
Henry  I.  (1100  to  1135)  had  a  park  at  Woodstock,  and 
four  centuries  later,  or  during  the  reign  of  Henry  VII., 
Holinshed  informs  us,  that  large  parks  or  inclosed  forest 
portions,  several  miles  in  circumference,  were  so  common, 
that  their  number  in  Kent  and  Essex  alone  amounted  to 
upwards  of  a  hundred. 

Although  these  parks  were  more  devoted  to  the  preser- 
vation of  game  and  the  pleasures  of  the  chase  than  to  any 
other  purpose,  their  existence  was,  we  conceive,  not  wholly 
owing  to  this  cause  ;  but  we  look  upon  them  as  indicating 
that  love  of  nature  and  that  desire  to  retain  beautiful  por- 
tions of  it  as  part  of  a  residence,  which  form  the  ground- 
work of  the  taste  for  the  modern  or  landscape  gardening, 
since  the  latter  is  only  an  epitome  of  nature  with  the 
charms  judiciously  heightened  by  art. 

The  Modern  Style.  Down  to  the  time  of  Addison, 
in  the  beginning  jf  the  eighteenth  century,  the  formal  style 
reigned  triumi)hant.     The  gardener,  the  architect,  and  the 


32  LANDSCAPE    GARDENING. 

sculptor — all  lovers  of  regularity  and  symmetry,  had  re- 
tained complete  mastery  of  its  arrangements.  And  it  is 
worthy  of  more  than  a  passing  remark,  that  when  the 
change  in  taste  did  take  place,  it  emanated  from  the  poet, 
the  painter,  and  the  tasteful  scholar,  rather  than  from  the 
practical  man. 

In  the  poetical  imagination,  indeed,  the  ideal  type  of  a 
modern  landscape  garden  seems  always  to  have  been  more 
or  less  shadowed  forth.  The  Vaucluse  of  Petrarch,  Tasso's 
garden  of  Armida,  the  vale  of  Tempe  of  iElian,  were  all 
exquisite  conceptions  of  the  modern  style.  And  Milton, 
surrounded  as  he  was  by  the  splendid  formalities  of  the 
gardens  of  his  time,  copied  from  no  existing  models,  but 
feeling  that  Eden  must  have  been  free  and  majestic  in  its 
outlines,  he  drew  from  his  inner  sense  of  the  beautiful,  and 
from  nature  as  he  saw  her  developed  in  the  works  of  the 
Creator.     There,  the  crisped  brooks, — 

"  With  mazy  error  under  pendant  shades 
Ran  nectar,  visiting  each  plant,  and  fed 
Flowers  worthy  of  Paradise,  which  not  nice  Art 
In  beds  and  curious  knots,  but  Nature  boon 
Pour'd  forth  profuse,  on  hill  and  dale  and  plain, 
Both  where  the  morning  sun  first  warnily  smote 
The  open  field,  and  where  the  unpierced  shade 
Imbrown'd  the  noontide  bowers  ;  thus  was  this  place 
A  happy  rural  seat  of  various  view." 

But  it  required  more  than  poetical  types  to  change  the 
long  rooted  fashion.  The  lever  of  satire  needed  to  be  ap- 
plied, and  the  golden  links  that  bind  Nature  and  Art,  more 
clearly  revealed,  before  the  old  system  could  be  made  to 
waver. 

The  glory  and  merit  of  the  total  revolution  which  about 
this  time  took  place  in  the  public  taste,  belong,  it  is  gene- 


HISTORICAL    NOTICES.  33 

rally  conceded,  mainly  to  Addison  and  Pope.  In  1712  ap- 
peared Addison's  papers  on  Imagination,  considered  with 
reference  to  the  works  of  Nature  and  Art.  With  a  delicate 
and  masterly  hand,  at  a  time  when  he  possessed,  through 
the  "  Spectator,"  the  ear  of  all  refined  and  tasteful  Eng- 
land, he  lifted  the  veil  between  the  garden  and  natural 
charms,  and  showed  how  beautiful  were  their  relations — 
how  soon  the  imagination  wearies  with  the  stiffness  of  the 
former,  and  how  much  grace  may  be  caught  from  a  freer 
imitation  of  the  swelling  wood  and  hill. 

The  next  year  Pope,  who  was  both  a  poet  and  painter, 
opened  his  quiver  of  satire  in  the  celebrated  article  on  ver- 
dant sculpture  in  the  Guardian,  where  he  ridiculed  with  no 
sparing  hand  the  sheared  alleys,  formal  groves,  and 

"  Statues  growing  that  noble  place  in, 
All  heathen  goddesses  most  rare, 
Homer,  Plutarch,  and  Nebuchadnezzar, 
Standing  naked  in  the  open  air  !" 

Pope  was  a  refined  and  skilful  amateur,  and  his  garden 
at  Twickenham  became  a  celebrated  miniature  type  of  the 
natural  school.  In  his  Epistle  to  Lord  Burlington,  he  de- 
veloped sound  principles  for  the  new  art ; — the  study  of 
nature  ;  the  genius  of  the  place ;  and  never  to  lose  sight  of 
good  sense  ;  the  latter,  a  rule  which  the  whimsical  follies 
of  that  day  in  gardening,  seemed,  doubtless,  to  render  espe- 
cially necessary,  but  which  the  discordant  abortions  of  am 
bitious,  would-be  men  of  taste,  prove  is  one  soonest  violated 
in  every  succeeding  age. 

The  change  in  the  popular  feeling  thus  created,  soon 
gave  rise  to  innovations  in  the  practical  art.  Bridgeman, 
the  fashionable  garden  artist  of  the  time,  struck,  as  Horace 


34  LANDSCAPE    GARDENING. 

Walpole  thinks,  by  Pope's  criticisms,  banished  verdant 
sculpture  from  his  plans,  and  introduced  bits  of  forest 
scenery  in  the  gardens  at  Richmond.  And  Loudon  and 
Wise,  the  two  noted  nurserymen  of  the  day,  laid  out  Kensing- 
ton gardens  anew  in  a  manner  so  much  more  natural  as  to 
ehcit  the  warm  commendations  of  Addison  in  the  Specta- 
tor. It  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  Kent  was  the  leader  of 
this  class.  Originally  a  painter,  and  the  friend  of  Lord 
Burlington,  he  next  devoted  himself  to  the  subject,  and 
was,  undoubtedly,  the  first  professional  landscape  gardener 
in  the  modern  style.  Previous  artists  had  confined  their 
efforts  within  the  rigid  walls  of  the  garden,  but  Kent,  who 
saw  in  all  nature  a  garden-landscape,  demolished  the  walls, 
introduced  the  ha-ha,  and  by  blending  the  park  and  the 
warden,  substituted  for  the  primness  of  the  old  inclosure, 
the  freedom  of  ihe  pleasure-ground.  His  taste  seems  to 
have  been  partly  formed  by  Pope,  and  the  Twickenham 
garden  was  the  prototype  of  those  of  Carlton  House,  Kent's 
chef  d'aeuvre.  And,  notwithstanding  his  faults,  "  his  tem- 
ples, obelisks,  and  gazabos  of  every  description  in  the  park, 
all  stuck  about  in  their  respective  high  places,"  notwith- 
standing that  his  passion  for  natural  effects  led  him  into  the 
absurdity  of  sometimes  planting  an  old  dead  tree  to  make 
the  illusion  more  perfect,  we  have  no  hesitation  in  accord- 
ing to  Kent  the  merit  of  first  fully  establishing,  in  practice, 
the  reform  in  taste  which  Addison  and  Pope  had  so  com- 
pletely developed  in  theory. 

Among  the  landmarks  of  the  progress  of  the  taste,  we 
must  not  refuse  a  passing  notice  of  what  seems  to  have  been 
an  unique  and  beautiful  specimen  of  the  new  feeling  for 
embellished  nature — Leasowes,  the  "  sentimental  farm"  of 
Shenstone.     From  contemporary  accounts,  it  appears  to 


HIS'IORICAL    NOTICES.  35 

have  been  originally  a  giazing  farm,  from  which,  by  taste- 
ful arrangement  and  planting,  and  pretty  walks,  seats,  root- 
house,  urns,  and  appropriate  inscriptions,  the  poet  created  a 
scene  of  much  pastoral  and  poetical  beauty. 

The  modern  style  was  now  running  high  in  popular 
favor  in  England,  but  the  next  professor  of  the  art.  Brown, 
who  seems  to  have  been  a  mannerist  not  without  some  sym- 
pathy with  nature,  but  not  capable  of  grasping  her  more 
varied  and  expressive  beauties,  "  Capability"  Brown,  as  he 
was  nicknamed,  saw  in  every  new  place  great  capabilities, 
but  unfortunately  his  own  mind  seems  to  have  furnished 
but  one  model — a  round  lake,  a  smooth  bare  lawn,  a  clump 
of  trees  and  a  boundary  belt — ^which  he  expanded,  with  few 
variations,  to  suit  the  compass  of  an  estate  of  a  thousand 
acres,  or  a  cottasre  with  a  few  roods.  His  works  were  often 
on  a  srand  scale,  and  he  boasted  that  the  Thames  would 
never  forgive  him  for  the  rival  he  had  created  in  the  arti- 
ficial lake  at  Blenheim.  "  The  places  he  altered,"  says 
Loudon,  "  are  beyond  all  reckoning.  Improvement  was  the 
fashion  of  the  time  ;  and  there  was  scarcely  a  country  gen- 
tleman who  did  not,  on  some  occasion  or  other,  consult  the 
gardening  idol  of  the  day."  Mason,  the  poet,  praises  this 
artist,  and  Horace  Walpole  apologizes  for  not  praising  him. 
Daines  Barrington  says,  "Kent  hath  been  succeeded  by 
Brown,  who  hath  undoubtedly  great  merit  in  laying  out 
pleasure  grounds  ;  but  I  conceive,  that,  in  some  of  his  plans, 
I  see  traces  rather  of  the  kitchen  gardener  of  old  Stowe, 
than  of  Poussin,  or  Claude  Lorraine." 

This  mannerism  gave  rise  finally,  to  the  celebrated  work 
On  the  Picturesque  by  Sir  Uvedale  Price,  who,  in  a  series 
of  elegant  and  masterly  essays,  pointed  out  the  fiults  and 
follies  of  this  Brown  and  his  imitators,  analysed  the  beau- 


36  LANDSCAPE    GARDENING. 

tiful  and  picturesque  in  nature  and  art,  and  founded  a  new 
school,  more  spirited  and  free  in  its  aim,  deriving  its  prin- 
ciples directly  from  nature  and  painting.  These,  with 
Knight's  elegant  Poem,  the  Landscape,  the  English  Garden 
by  Mason,  and  Whately's  Observations  on  Modern  Garden- 
ing, all  published  between  1750  and  the  beginning  of  the 
year  1800,  established  the  new  style  firmly  in  the  pubHc 
mind.  On  the  Continent,  especially  in  France,  though  the 
old  fashioned  gardens  were  not  demolished,  as  in  England, 
new  ones  were  laid  out  in  accordance  with  the  dawning 
taste,  and  none  of  the  antique  establishments  were  thought 
perfect  without  a  spot  set  apart  as  ajardin  Anglais. 

It  is  not  a  little  remarkable  that  the  Chinese  taste  in  gar- 
dening, which  was  at  first  made  known  to  the  English  public 
about  this  time,  is  by  far  the  nearest  previous  approach  to 
the  modern  style.  Some  critics,  indeed,  have  asserted  that 
.  the  English  are  indebted  to  it  for  their  ideas  of  the  modern 
style.  However  this  may  be,  and  we  confess  it  has  very 
little  weight  with  us,  the  harmonious  system  which  the  taste 
of  the  English  has  evolved  in  the  modern  style,  is  at  the 
present  day  too  far  beyond  the  Chinese  manner  to  admit  of 
any  comparison.  The  first  is  imbued  with  beauty  of  the 
most  graceful  and  agreeable  character,  based  upon  nature, 
and  refined  by  art ;  while  the  latter  abounds  in  puerilities 
and  whimsical  conceits — rocky  hills,  five  feet  high — minia- 
ture bridges — dwarf  oaks,  a  hundred  years  old  and  twenty 
inches  in  altitude — which,  whatever  may  be  our  admiration 
for  the  curious  ingenuity  and  skill  tasked  in  their  produc- 
tion, leave  on  our  mind  no  very  favorable  impression  of  the 
taste  which  designed  them. 

The  most  distinguished  English  Landscape  Gardeners  of 
more  recent  date,  are  the  late  Humphrey  Repton,  who  died 


HISTORICAL    NOTICES.  37 

,n  1818 ;  and  since  him  John  Claudius  Loudon,  better  known 
in  this  country,  as  the  celebrated  gardening  author.  Repton's 
taste  in  Landscape  gardening  was  cultivated  and  elegant, 
and  many  of  the  finest  parks  and  pleasure  grounds  of 
England,  at  the  present  day,  bear  witness  to  the  skill  and 
harmony  of  his  designs.  His  published  works  are  full  of 
instructive  hints,  and  at  Cobham  Hall,  one  of  the  finest 
seats  in  Britain,  is  an  inscription  to  his  memory,  by  Lord 
Darnley. 

Mr.  Loudon's*  writings  and  labors  in  tasteful  gardening, 
are  too  well  known,  to  render  it  necessary  that  we  should 
do  more  than  allude  to  them  here.  Much  of  what  is  known 
of  the  art  in  this  country  undoubtedly  is,  more  or  less 
directly,  to  be  referred  to  the  influence  of  his  published 
works.  Although  he  is,  as  it  seems  to  us,  somewhat 
deficient  as  an  artist  in  imagination,  no  previous  author 
ever  deduced,  so  clearly,  sound  artistical  principles  in  Land- 
scape Gardening  and  Rural  Architecture  ;  and  fitness,  good 
sense,  and  beauty,  are  combined  with  much  unity  of  feeling 
m  all  his  works. 

As  the  modern  style  owes  its  origin  mainly  to  the 
English,  so  it  has  also  been  developed  and  carried  to  its 
greatest  perfection  in  the  British  Islands.  The  law  of 
primogeniture,  which  has  there  so  long  existed,  in  itself, 
contributes  greatly  to  the  continual  improvement  and 
embellishment  of  those  vast  landed  estates,  that  remain 
perpetually  in  the  hands  of  the  same  family.     Magnificent 

*  While  we  are  revising  the  second  edition,  we  regret  deeply  to  learn  the  death 
of  Mr.  Loudon.  His  herculean  labors  as  an  author  have  at  last  destroyed  him ; 
»nd  in  his  death  we  lose  one  who  has  done  more  than  any  other  person  that 
«ver  lived,  to  popularize,  and  render  universal,  a  taste  for  Gardening  and 
Domestic  Architecture. 


38  LANDSCAPE    GARDENING. 

buildings,  added  to  by  each  succeeding  generation,  who 
often  preserve  also  the  older  portions  with  the  most 
scrupulous  care ;  wide  spread  parks,  clothed  with  a  thick 
velvet  turf,  which,  amid  their  moist  atmosphere,  preserves 
during  great  part  of  the  year  an  emerald  greenness — 
studded  with  noble  oaks  and  other  forest  trees  which 
number  centuries  of  growth  and  maturity  ;  these  advan- 
tages, in  the  hands  of  the  most  intelligent  and  the 
wealthiest  aristocracy  in  the  world,  have  indeed  made 
almost  an  entire  landscape  garden  of  "  merry  England." 
Among  a  multitude  of  splendid  examples  of  these  noble 
residences,  we  will  only  refer  the  reader  to  the  celebrated 
Blenheim,  the  seat  of  the  Duke  of  Marlborough,  where 
the  lake  alone  (probably  the  largest  piece  of  artificial 
water  in  the  world)  covers  a  surface  of  two  hundred  acres  : 
Chatsworth,  the  varied  and  magnificent  seat  of  the  Duke 
of  Devonshire,  where  there  are  scenes  illustrative  of  almost 
every  style  of  the  art :  and  Woburn  Abbey,  the  grounds 
of  which  are  full  of  the  choicest  specimens  of  trees  and 
plants,  and  where  the  park,  like  that  of  Ashbridge, 
Arundel  Castle,  and  several  other  private  residences  in 
England,  is  only  embraced  within  a  circumference  of  from 
ten  to  twenty  miles. 

On  the  continent  of  Europe,  though  there  are  a  multi- 
tude of  examples  of  the  modern  style  of  landscape 
gardening,  which  is  there  called  the  English  or  natural 
style,  yet  in  the  neighborhood  of  many  of  the  capitals, 
especially  those  of  the  south  of  Europe,  the  taste  for 
the  geometric  or  ancient  style  of  gardening  still  prevails 
to  a  considerable  extent ;  partially,  no  doubt,  because  that 
style  admits,  with  more  facility,  of  those  classical  and 
architectural  accompaniments  of  vases,  statues,  busts,  etc.. 


HISTORICAL    NOTICES.  39 

the  passion  for  which  pervades  a  people  rich  in  ancient  and 
modern  sculptural  works  of  art.  Indeed  many  of  the 
gardens  on  the  continent  are  more  striking  from  their 
numerous  sculpturesque  ornaments,  interspersed  with 
fountains  and  jets-d'eau,  than  from  the  beauty  or  rarity 
of  their  vegetation,  or  from  their  arrangement. 

In  the  United  States,  it  is  highly  improbable  that  we 
shall  ever  witness  such  splendid  examples  of  landscape 
gardens  as  those  abroad,  to  which  we  have  alluded.  Here 
the  rights  of  man  are  held  to  be  equal ;  and  if  there  are 
no  enormous  parks,  and  no  class  of  men  whose  wealth  is 
hereditary,  there  is,  at  least,  what  is  more  gratifying  to 
the  feelings  of  the  philanthropist,  the  almost  entire  absence 
of  a  very  poor  class  in  the  country ;  while  we  have,  on 
the  other  hand,  a  large  class  of  independent  landholders, 
who  are  able  to  assemble  around  them,  not  only  the  useful 
and  convenient,  but  the  agreeable  and  beautiful,  in  country 
life. 

The  number  of  individuals  among  us  who  possess  wealth 
and  refinement  sufficient  to  enable  them  to  enjoy  the 
pleasures  of  a  country  life,  and  who  desire  in  their  private 
residences  so  much  of  the  beauties  of  landscape  gardening 
and  rural  embellishment  as  may  be  had  without  any 
enormous  expenditure  of  means,  is  every  day  increasing. 
And  although,  until  lately,  a  very  meagre  plan  of  laying 
out  the  grounds  of  a  residence,  was  all  that  we  could  lay 
claim  to,  yet  the  taste  for  elegant  rural  improvements  is 
advancing  now  so  rapidly,  that  we  have  no  hesitation  in 
predicting  that  in  half  a  century  more,  there  will  exist  a 
greater  number  of  beautiful  villas  and  country  seats  of 
moderate  extent,  in  the  Atlantic  States,  than  in  any 
country  in  Europe,  England  alone  excepted.     With  us,  a 


40  LANDSCAPE    GARDENING. 

feeling,  a  taste,  or  an  improvement,  is  contagious  ;  and 
once  fairly  appreciated  and  established  in  one  portion  of 
the  country,  it  is  disseminated  with  a  celerity  that  ia 
indeed  wonderful,  to  every  other  portion.  And  though  it 
is  necessarily  the  case  where  amateurs  of  any  art  are 
more  numerous  than  its  professors,  that  there  will  be,  in 
devising  and  carrying  plans  into  execution,  many  specimens 
of  bad  taste,  and  perhaps  a  sufficient  number  of  efforts  to 
improve  without  any  real  taste  whatever,  still  we  are 
convinced  the  effect  of  our  rural  embellishments  will  in 
the  end  be  highly  agreeable,  as  a  false  taste  is  not  likely 
to  be  a  permanent  one  in  a  community  where  everything 
is  so  much  the  subject  of  criticism. 

With  regard  to  the  literature  and  practice  of  Landscape 
Gardening  as  an  art,  in  North  America,  almost  everything 
is  yet  before  us,  comparatively  little  having  yet  been 
done.  Almost  all  the  improvements  of  the  grounds  of  our 
finest  country  residences,  have  been  carried  on  under  the 
direction  of  the  proprietors  themselves,  suggested  by  their 
own  good  taste,  in  many  instances  improved  by  the  study 
of  European  authors,  or  by  a  personal  inspection  of  the 
finest  places  abroad.  The  only  American  work  previously 
published  which  treats  directly  of  Landscape  Gardening, 
is  the  American  Gardener  s  Calendar,  by  Bernard 
McMahon  of  Philadelphia.  The  only  practitioner  of  the 
art,  of  any  note,  was  the  late  M.  Parmentier  of  Brooklyn, 
Long  Island. 

M.  Andre  Parmentier  was  the  brother  of  that  celebrated 
horticulturist,  the  Chevalier  Parmentier,  Mayor  of  Enghien, 
Holland.  He  emigrated  to  this  country  about  the  year 
1824,  and  in  the  Horticultural  Nurseries  which  he  esta- 
blished at  Brooklyn,  he  gave  a  specimen  of  the  naturaj 


HISTORICAL    NOTICES.  41 

Myle  of  laying  out  grounds,  combined  with  a  scientific 
arrangement  of  plants,  which  excited  public  curiosity,  and 
contributed  not  a  little  to  the  dissemination  of  a  taste  for 
the  natural  mode  of  landscape  gardening. 

During  M.  Parmentier's  residence  on  Long  Island,  he 
was  almost  constantly  applied  to  for  plans  for  laying  out 
the  grounds  of  country  seats,  by  persons  in  various  parts 
of  the  Union,  as  well  as  in  the  immediate  proximity  of 
New  York.  In  many  cases  he  not  only  surveyed  the 
demesne  to  be  improved,  but  furnished  the  plants  and 
trees  necessary  to  carry  out  his  designs.  Several  plans 
were  prepared  by  him  for  residences  of  note  in  the  South- 
ern States  ;  and  two  or  three  places  in  Upper  Canada, 
especially  near  Montreal,  were,  we  believe,  laid  out  by  his 
own  hands  and  stocked  from  his  nursery  grounds.  In  his 
periodical  catalogue,  he  arranged  the  hardy  trees  and 
shrubs  that  flourish  in  this  latitude  in  classes,  according  to 
their  height,  etc.,  and  published  a  short  treatise  on  the 
superior  claims  of  the  natural,  over  the  formal  or  geome- 
tric style  of  laying  out  grounds.  In  short,  we  consider  M 
Parmentier's  labors  and  examples  as  having  effected, 
directly,  far  more  for  landscape  gardening  in  America, 
than  those  of  any  other  individual  whatever. 

The  introduction  of  tasteful  gardening  in  this  country 
is,  of  course,  of  a  very  recent  date.  But  so  long  ago  as 
from  25  to  50  years,  there  were  several  country  residences 
highly  remarkable  for  extent,  elegance  of  arrangement, 
and  the  highest  order  and  keeping.  Among  these,  we 
desire  especially  to  record  here  the  celebrated  seats  of 
Chancellor  Livingston,  Wm.  Hamilton,  Esq.,  Theodore 
Lyman,  Esq.,  and  Judge  Peters. 

Woodlands,   the    seat   of    the    Hamilton   family,   near 


42  LANDSCAPE    GARDENING. 

Philadelphia,  was,  so  long  ago  as  1805,  highly  celebratea 
for  its  gardening  beauties.  The  refined  taste  and  the 
wealth  of  its  accomplished  owner,  were  freely  lavished  in 
its  improvement  and  embellishment ;  and  at  a  time  when 
the  introduction  of  rare  exotics  was  attended  with  a  vast 
deal  of  risk  and  trouble,  the  extensive  green-houses  and 
orangeries  of  this  seat  contained  all  the  richest  treasures 
of  the  exotic  flora,  and  among  other  excellent  gardeners 
employed,  was  the  distinguished  botanist  Pursh,  whose 
enthusiastic  taste  in  his  favorite  science  was  promoted  and 
aided  by  Mr.  Hamilton.  The  extensive  pleasure  grounds 
were  judiciously  planted,  singly  and  in  groups,  with  a 
great  variety  of  the  finest  species  of  trees.  The  attention 
of  the  visitor  to  this  place  is  now  arrested  by  two  very 
large  specimens  of  that  curious  tree,  the  Japanese  Ginko 
{Salishuria),  60  or  70  feet  high,  perhaps  the  finest  in 
Europe  or  America,  by  the  noble  magnolias,  and  the  rich 
park-like  appearance  of  some  of  the  plantations  of  the 
finest  native  and  foreign  oaks.  From  the  recent  un- 
healthiness  of  this  portion  of  the  Schuylkill,  Woodlands 
has  fallen  into  decay,  but  there  can  be  no  question  that  it 
was,  for  a  long  time,  the  most  tasteful  and  beautiful 
residence  in  America. 

The  seat  of  the  late  Judge  Peters,  about  five  miles  from 
Philadelphia,  was,  30  years  ago,  a  noted  specimen  of  the 
ancient  school  of  landscape  gardening.  Its  proprietor  had 
a  most  extended  reputation  as  a  scientific  agriculturist, 
and  his  place  was  also  no  less  remarkable  for  the  design 
and  culture  of  its  pleasure-grounds,  than  for  the  excellence 
of  its  farm.  Long  and  stately  avenues,  with  vistas 
terminated  by  obelisks,  a  garden  adorned  with  marble 
vases,  busts,  and  statues,  and  pleasure  grounds  filled  with 


HISTORICAL    NOTICES.  49 

the  rarest  trees  and  shrubs,  were  conspicuous  features 
here.  Some  of  the  latter  are  now  so  remarkable  as  to 
attract  strongly  the  attention  of  the  visitor.  Among 
them,  is  the  chestnut  planted  by  Washington,  which 
produces  the  largest  and  finest  fruit ;  very  large  hollies ; 
and  a  curious  old  box-tree  much  higher  than  the  mansion 
near  which  it  stands.  But  the  most  striking  feature  now, 
is  the  still  remaining  grjmd  old  avenue  of  hemlocks  (Abies 
canadensis).  Many  of  these  trees,  which  were  planted 
100  years  ago,  are  now  venerable  specimens,  ninety  feet 
high,  whose  huge  trunks  and  wide  spread  branches  are  in 
many  cases  densely  wreathed  and  draped  with  masses  of 
English  Ivy,  forming  the  most  picturesque  sylvan  objects 
we  ever  beheld. 

Lemon  Hill,  half  a  mile  above  the  Fairmount  water- 
works of  Philadelphia,  was,  20  years  ago,  the  most  perfect 
specimen  of  the  geometric  mode  in  America,  and  since  its 
destruction  by  the  extension  of  the  city,  a  few  years  since, 
there  is  nothing  comparable  with  it,  in  that  style,  among 
us.  All  the  symmetry,  uniformity,  and  high  art  of  the 
old  school,  were  displayed  here  in  artificial  plantations, 
formal  gardens  with  trellises,  grottoes,  spring-houses, 
temples,  statues,  and  vases,  with  numerous  ponds  of  water, 
jets-d'eau,  and  other  water-works,  parterres  and  an  exten- 
sive range  of  hothouses.  The  effect  of  this  garden  was 
brilliant  and  striking ;  its  position,  on  the  lovely  banks  of 
the  Schuylkill,  admirable ;  and  its  liberal  proprietor,  Mr. 
Pratt,  by  opening  it  freely  to  the  public,  greatly  increased 
the  popular  taste  in  the  neighborhood  of  that  city. 

On  the  Hudson,  the  show  place  of  the  last  age  was  the 
still  interesting  Clermont,  then  the  residence  of  Chancellor 
Livingston.     Its  level  or  gently  undulating  lawn,  four  or 


44  LANDSCAPE    GARDENING. 

five  miles  in  length,  the  rich  native  woods,  and  the  long 
vistas  of  planted  avenues,  added  to  its  fine  water  view, 
rendered  this  a  noble  place.  The  mansion,  the  green- 
houses, and  the  gardens,  show  something  of  the  French 
taste  in  design,  which  Mr.  Livingston's  residence  abroad, 
at  the  time  when  that  mode  was  popular,  no  doubt,  led 
him  to  adopt.  The  finest  yellow  locusts  in  America  are 
now  standing  in  the  pleasure-grounds  here,  and  the 
gardens  contain  many  specimens  of  fruit  trees,  the  first  of 
their  sorts  introduced  into  the  Union. 

Waltham  House,  about  nine  miles  from  Boston,  was,  25 
years  ago,  one  of  the  oldest  and  finest  places,  as  regards 
Landscape  Gardening.  Its  owner,  the  late  Hon.  T. 
Lyman,  was  a  highly-accomplished  man,  and  the  grounds 
at  Waltham  House  bear  witness  to  a  refined  and  elegant 
taste  in  rural  improvement.  A  fine  level  park,  a  mile  in 
length,  enriched  with  groups  of  English  limes,  elms,  and 
oaks,  and  rich  masses  of  native  wood,  watered  by  a  fine 
stream  and  stocked  with  deer,  were  the  leading  features 
of  the  place  at  that  time ;  and  this,  and  Woodlands,  were 
the  two  best  specimens  of  the  modern  style,  as  Judge 
Peters'  seat.  Lemon  Hill,  and  Clermont,  were  of  the  an- 
cient style,  in  the  earliest  period  of  the  history  of  Land- 
scape Gardening  among  us. 

There  is  no  part  of  the  Union  where  the  taste  in  Land- 
scape Gardening  is  so  far  advanced,  as  on  the  middle  por- 
tion of  the  Hudson.  The  natural  scenery  is  of  the  finest 
character,  and  places  but  a  mile  or  two  apart  often 
possess,  from  the  constantly  varying  forms  of  the  water, 
shores,  and  distant  hills,  widely  different  kinds  of  home 
landscape  and  distant  view.  Standing  in  the  grounds  of 
some  of  the  finest  of  these  seats,  the  eye  beholds  only  the 


t  ig.  1.     View  m  the  0. rounds  at  l^Jyde.  I'aik. 


Kig,  'J.     'I'lie  Manor  of  Livm^sto 


HISTORICAL    NOTICES.  45 

soft  foreground  of  smooth  lawn,  the  rich  groups  of  trees 
shutting  out  all  neighboring  tracts,  the  lake-like  expanse 
of  water,  and,  closing  the  distance,  a  fine  range  of  wooded 
mountain.  A  residence  here  of  but  a  hundred  acres,  so 
fortunately  are  these  disposed  by  nature,  seems  to  appro- 
priate the  whole  scenery  round,  and  to  be  a  thousand  in 
extent. 

At  the  present  time,  our  handsome  villa,  residences  are 
becoming  every  day  more  numerous,  and  it  would  require 
much  more  space  than  our  present  limits,  to  enumerate 
all  the  tasteful  rural  country  places  within  our  knowledge, 
many  of  which  have  been  newly  laid  out,  or  greatly  im- 
proved within  a  few  years.  But  we  consider  it  so  im- 
portant and  instructive  to  the  novice  in  the  art  of  Land- 
scape Gardening  to  examine,  personally,  country  seats  of 
a  highly  tasteful  character,  that  we  shall  venture  to  refer 
the  reader  to  a  few  of  those  which  have  now  a  reputation 
among  us  as  elegant  country  residences. 

Hyde  Park,  on  the  Hudson,  formerly  the  seat  of  the  late 
Dr.  Hosack,  now  of  W.  Langdon,  Esq.,  has  been  justly 
celebrated  as  one  of  the  finest  specimens  of  the  modern 
style  of  Landscape  Gardening  in  America.  Nature  has, 
indeed,  done  much  for  this  place,  as  the  grounds  are  finely 
varied,  beautifully  watered  by  a  lively  stream,  and  the 
views  are  inexpressibly  striking  from  the  neighborhood  of 
the  house  itself,  including,  as  they  do,  the  noble  Hudson 
for  sixty  miles  in  its  course,  through  rich  valleys  and  bold 
mountains.  (See  Fig.  1.)  But  the  efforts  of  art  are  not 
unworthy  so  rare  a  localit}^ ;  and  while  the  native  woods, 
and  beautifully  undulating  surface,  are  preserved  in  their 
original  state,  the  pleasure-grounds,  roads,  walks,  drives, 
and  new  plantations,  have  been  laid  out  in  such  a  judi- 


46  LANDSCAPE    GARDEXIXG. 

cious  manner  as  to  heighten  the  charms  of  nature.  Large 
and  costly  hot-houses  were  erected  by  Dr.  Hosack,  with 
also  entrance  lodges  at  two  points  on  the  estate,  a  fine 
bridge  over  the  stream,  and  numerous  pavilions  and  seats 
commanding  extensive  prospects ;  in  short,  nothing  was 
spared  to  render  this  a  complete  residence.  The  park, 
which  at  one  time  contained  some  fine  deer,  afforded  a  de- 
lightful drive  within  itself,  as  the  whole  estate  numbered 
about  seven  hundred  acres.  The  plans  for  laying  out  the 
grounds  were  furnished  by  Parmentier,  and  architects  from 
New  York  were  employed  in  designing  and  erecting  the 
buildings.  For  a  long  time,  this  was  the  finest  seat  in 
America,  but  there  are  now  manv  rivals  to  this  claim. 

The  Manor  of  Livingston,  the  seat  of  Mrs.  Mary  Living- 
ston, is  seven  miles  east  of  the  city  of  Hudson.  The 
mansion  stands  in  the  midst  of  a  fine  park,  rising  gradually 
from  the  level  of  a  rich  inland  country,  and  commanding 
prospects  for  sixty  miles  around.  The  park  is,  perhaps, 
the  most  remarkable  in  America,  for  the  noble  simplicity  of 
its  character,  and  the  perfect  order  in  which  it  is  kept. 
The  turf  is,  everywhere,  short  and  velvet-like,  the  gravel- 
roads  scrupulously  firm  and  smooth,  and  near  the  house 
are  the  largest  and  most  superb  evergreens.  The  mansion 
is  one  of  the  chastest  specimens  of  the  Grecian  style,  and 
there  is  an  air  of  great  dignity  about  the  whole  demesne. 
(Fig.  2.) 

Blithewood,  the  seat  of  R.  Donaldson,  Esq.,  near  Barry- 
town  on  the  Hudson,  is  one  of  the  most  charming  villa 
residences  in  the  Union.  The  natural  scenery  here,  is  • 
nowhere  surpassed  in  its  enchanting  union  of  softness  and 
dignity — the  river  being  four  miles  wide,  its  placid  bosom 
broken  only  by  islands  and  gleaming  sails,  and  the  horizon 


£BHSi^3.ti^=^ 


HISTORICAL    NOTICES.  47 

grandly  closing  in  with  the  tall  blue  summits  of  the  distant 
Kaatskills.  The  smiling,  gently  varied  lawn  is  studded 
with  groups  and  masses  of  fine  forest  and  ornamental 
trees,  beneath  which  are  walks  leading  in  easy  curves  to 
rustic  seats,  and  summer  houses  placed  in  secluded  spots, 
or  to  openings  affording  most  loveiy  prospects.  (See 
Frontispiece.)  In  various  situations  near  the  house  and 
upon  the  lawn,  sculptured  vases  of  Maltese  stone  are  alsc 
disposed  in  such  a  manner  as  to  give  a  refined  and  classic 
air  to  the  grounds. 

As  a  pendant  to  this  graceful  landscape,  there  is  within 
the  grounds  scenery  of  an  opposite  character,  equally  wild 
and  picturesque — a  fine,  bold  stream,  fringed  with  woody 
banks,  and  dashing  over  several  rocky  cascades,  thirty  or 
forty  feet  in  height,  and  falling  altogether  a  hundred  feet 
in  half  a  mile.  (See  view,  Sect,  viii.)  There  are  also, 
within  the  grounds,  a  pretty  gardener's  lodge,  in  the  rural 
cottage  style,  and  a  new  entrance  lodge  by  the  gate,  in  the 
bracketed  mode;  in  short,  we  can  recall  no  place  of 
moderate  extent,  where  nature  and  tasteful  art  are  both  so 
harmoniously  combined  to  express  grace  and  elegance. 

Montgomery  Place  (see  Fig.  3),  the  residence  of  Mrs 
Edward  Livingston,  which  is  also  situated  on  the  Hudson 
near  Barrytown,  deserves  a  more  extended  notice  than  our 
present  limits  allow,  for  it  is,  as  a  whole,  nowhere  sur- 
passed in  America  in  point  of  location,  natural  beauty,  or 
the  landscape  gardening  charms  which  it  exhibits. 

It  is  one  of  our  oldest  improved  country  seats,  having 
been  originally  the  residence  of  Gen.  Montgomery,  the  hero 
of  Quebec.  On  the  death  of  his  widow  it  passed  into  the 
hands  of  her  brother,  Edward  Livingston,  Esq.,  the  late 
minister  to  France,   and, up  to  the  present  moment  has 


48 


LANDSCAPE    GARDENING. 


rilways   received   the   most   tasteful   and  judicious  treat 
ment. 

The  lover  of  the  expressive  in  nature,  or  the  beautiful  in 
art,  will  find  here  innumerable  subjects  for  his  study. 
The  natural  scenery  in  many  portions  approaches  the  cha- 
racter of  grandem',  and  the  foreground  of  rich  woods  and 
lawns,  stretching  out  on  all  sides  of  the  mountain,  completes 
a  home  landscape  of  dignified  and  elegant  seclusion,  rarely 
surpassed  in  any  country. 

Among  the  fine  features  of  this  estate  are  the  loilder- 
ness,  a  richly  wooded  and  highly  picturesque  valley,  filled 
with  the  richest  growth  of  trees,  and  threaded  with  dark, 
intricate,    and   mazy   walks,   along   which   are    placed   a 

variety  of  rustic 
seats  (Fig.  4). 
This  valley  is 
musical  with  the 
sound  of  water- 
falls, of  which 
there  are  several 
fine  ones  in  the 
bold  impetuous 
stream  which 
finds  its  course 
through  the  low- 
er part  of  the 
wilderness.  Near  the  further  end  of  the  valley  is  a  beauti- 
ful lake  (Fig.  5),  half  of  which  lies  cool  and  dark  under  the 
shadow  of  tall  trees,  while  the  other  half  gleams  in  the 
open  sunlight. 

In  a  part  of  the  lawn,  near  the  house,  yet  so  surrounded 
by  a  dark  setting  of  trees  and  §hrubs  as  to  form  a  rich 


[Fig.  4.    One  of  the  Rustic  Peril-  u  M.i.ijiinuN  I'l.ice.] 


HISTORICAL    NOTICES. 


49 


picture  by  itself,  is  one  of  the  most  perfect  flower  gardens 
in  the  country,  laid  out  in  the  arabesque  manner,  and  glow- 
ing with  masses  of  the  gayest  colors — each  bed  being  com- 
posed wholly  of  a  single  hue.  A  large  conservatory,  an 
exotic  garden,  an  arboretum,  etc.,  are  among  the  features 
of  interest  in  this  admirable  residence.  Includinor  a  drive 
through  a  fine  bit  of  natural  w^ood,  south  of  the  mansion, 
there  are  five  miles  of  highly  varied  and  picturesque  pri- 
vate roads  and  walks,  through  the  pleasure-grounds  of 
Montgomery  Place. 


[Fig.  5.     The  L:ike  at  Mn/.t--  .i.;,  ry  T 

Ellerslie  is  the  seat  of  William  Kelly,  Esq.  It  is  three 
miles  below  Rhinebeck.  It  comprises  over  six  hundred 
acres,  and  is  one  of  our  finest  examples  of  high  keeping 
and  good  management,  both  in  an  ornamental  and  an 
agricultural  point  of  view.  The  house  is  conspicuously 
placed  on  a  commanding  natural  terrace,  with  a  fair  fore- 
ground of  park  surface  below  it,  studded  with  beautiful 
groups  of  elms  and  oaks,  and  a  very  fine  roach  of  river  and 


50  LANDSCAPE    GARDENING. 

distant  hills.  This  is  one  of  the  most  celebrated  places  on 
the  Hudson,  and  there  are  few  that  so  well  pay  tne  lover 
of  improved  landscape  for  a  visit. 

Just  below  Ellerslie  are  the  fine  mansion  and  pleasing 
grounds  of  Wm.  Emmet,  Esq., — the  former  a  stone  edifice, 
in  the  castellated  style,  and  the  latter  forming  a  most 
agreeable  point  on  the  margin  of  the  river. 

The  seat  of  Gardiner  Howland,  Esq.,  near  New  Ham- 
burgh, is  not  only  beautiful  in  situation,  but  is  laid  out 
with  great  care,  and  is  especially  remarkable  for  the  many 
rare  trees  and  shrubs  collected  in  its  grounds. 

Wodenethe,  near  Fishkill  landing,  is  the  seat  of  H.  W. 
Sargent,  Esq.,  and  is  a  bijou  full  of  interest  for  the  lover  of 
rural  beauty  ;  abounding  in  rare  trees,  shrubs,  and  plants, 
as  well  as  vases,  and  objects  of  rural  embellishment  of  all 
kinds. 

Kenwood  (Fig.  0),  the  residence  of  J.  Rathbone,  Esq.,  is 
one  mile  south  of  Albany.  Ten  years  ago  this  spot  was  a 
wild  and  densely  wooded  hill,  almost  inaccessible.  With 
great  taste  and  industry  Mr.  Rathbone  has  converted  it 
into  a  country  residence  of  much  picturesque  beauty, 
erected  in  the  Tudor  style,  one  of  the  best  villas  in  the 
country,  with  a  gate-lodge  in  the  same  mode,  and  laid  out 
the  grounds  with  remarkable  skill  and  good  taste.  There 
are  about  1200  acres  in  this  estate,  and  pleasure  grounds, 
forcing  houses,  and  gardens,  are  now  flourishing  where  all 
was  so  lately  in  the  rudest  state  of  nature ;  while,  by  the 
judicious  preservation  of  natural  wood,  the  effect  of  a  long 
cultivated  demesne  has  been  given  to  the  whole. 

The  Manor  House  of  the  "  Patroon"  (as  the  eldest  son 
of  the  Van  Rensselaer  family  is  called)  is  in  the  northern 
suburbs  of  the  city  of  Albany.      The    mansion,   greatly 


Fig.  7.    Beaverwyck,  tho  Seat  of  Wm.  P.  Van  Rensselaer,  Esq. 


Fig.  8.     Cottngo  Residenoc  of  Win.  11.  Aspiiiwall,  Esq. 


HI&rORICAL    NOTICES.  51 

enlarged  and  improved  a  few  yeats  since,  from  the  designs 
of  Upjohn,  is  one  of  the  largest  and  most  admirable  in  all 
respects,  to  be  fomid  in  the  country,  and  the  pleasm'e- 
ffrounds  in  the  rear  of  the  house  are  tasteful  and  beau- 
tiful. 

Beaverivijck,  a  little  north  of  Albany,  on  the  opposite 
bank  of  the  river,  is  the  seat  of  Wm.  P.  Van  Rensselaer, 
Esq.  (Fig.  7.)  The  whole  estate  is  ten  or  twelve  miles 
square,  including  the  village  of  Bath  on  the  river  shore, 
and  a  large  farming  district.  The  home  residence  em- 
braces several  hundred  acres,  with  a  large  level  lawn, 
bordered  by  highly  varied  surface  of  hill  and  dale.  The 
mansion,  one  of  the  first  class,  is  newly  erected  from  the 
plans  of  Mr.  Diaper,  and  in  its  interior — its  hall  with 
mosaic  floor  of  polished  woods,  its  marble  staircase, 
frescoed  apartments,  and  spacious  adjoining  conservatory 
— is  perhaps  the  most  splendid  in  the  Union.  The  grounds 
are  yet  newly  laid  out,  but  with  much  judgment ;  and  six 
or  seven  miles  of  winding  gravelled  roads  and  walks  have 
been  formed — their  boundaries  now  leading  over  level 
meadows,  and  now  winding  through  woody  dells.  The 
drives  thus  afforded,  are  almost  unrivalled  in  extent  and 
variety,  and  give  the  stranger  or  guest,  an  opportunity  of 
seeing  the  near  and  distant  views  to  the  best  advantage. 

At  Tarrytown,  is  the  cottage  residence  of  Washington 
Irving,  which  is,  in  location  and  accessories,  almost  the 
beau  ideal  of  a  cottage  ornee.  The  charming  manner  in 
which  the  Avild  foot-paths,  in  the  neighborhood  of  this 
cottage,  are  conducted  among  the  picturesque  dells  and 
banks,  is  precisely  what  one  would  look  for  here.  A  little 
below,  Mr.  Sheldon's  cottage,  with  its  pretty  lawn  and  its 
charming  brook,  is  one  of  the  best  specimens  of  this  kind 


52  '  LANDSCAPE    GARDENING. 

of  residence  on  the  river.     At  Hastings,  four  or  five  miles 
south,  is  the  agreeable  seat  of  Judge  Constant. 

About  twelve  miles  from  New  York,  on  the  Sound,  is 
Hunter  s  Island,  the  seat  of  John  Hunter,  Esq.,  a  place  of 
much  simplicity  and  dignity  of  character.  The  whole 
island  may  be  considered  an  extensive  park  carpeted  with 
soft  lawn,  and  studded  with  noble  trees.  The  mansion  is 
simple  in  its  exterior,  but  internally,  is  filled  with  rich 
treasures  of  art.  The  seat  of  James  Munroe,  Esq.,  on  the 
East  river  in  this  neighborhood,  abounds  with  beautiful 
trees,  and  many  other  features  of  interest. 

The  Cottage  residence  of  William  H.  Aspinwall,  Esq.,  on 
Staten  Island,  is  a  highly  picturesque  specimen  of  Land- 
scape Gardening.  The  house  is  in  the  English  cottage 
style,  and  from  its  open  lawn  in  front,  the  eye  takes  in  a 
wide  view  of  the  ocean,  the  Narrows,  and  the  blue  hills  of 
Neversink.  In  the  rear  of  the  cottage,  the  surface  is 
much  broken  and  varied,  and  finely  wooded  and  planted. 
In  improving  this  picturesque  site,  a  nice  sense  of  the 
charm  of  natural  expression  has  been  evinced ;  and  the 
sudden  variations  from  smooth  open  surface,  to  wild 
wooden  banks,  with  rocky,  moss-covered  flights  of  steps, 
strike  the  stranger  equally  with  surprise  and  delight.  A 
charming  greenhouse,  a  knotted  flower-garden,  and  a 
pretty,  rustic  moss-house,  are  among  the  interesting  points 
of  this  spirited  place.     (See  Fig.  8.) 

The  seat  of  the  Wads  worth  family,  at  Geneseo,  is  the 
finest  in  the  interior  of  the  state  of  New  York.  Nothing, 
indeed,  can  well  be  more  magnificent  than  the  meadow  park 
at  Geneseo.  It  is  more  than  a  thousand  acres  in  extent, 
lying  on  each  side  of  the  Genesee  river,  and  is  filled  with 
thousands  of  the  noblest  oaks  and  elms,  many  of  which,  but 


HISTORICAL    \OTICES  53 

more  especially  the  oaks,  are  such  trees  as  we  see  in  the 
pictures  of  Claude,  or  our  own  Durand  ;  richly  developed, 
their  trunks  and  branches  grand  and  majestic,  their  heads 
full  of  breadth  and  grandeur  of  outline.  (See  Fig.  9.) 
These  oaks,  distributed  over  a  nearly  level  surface,  with 
the  trees  disposed  either  singly  or  in  the  finest  groups,  as 
if  most  tastefully  planted  centuries  ago,  are  solely  the  work 
of  nature ;  and  yet  so  entirely  is  the  whole  like  the 
grandest  planted  park,  that  it  is  difficult  to  believe  thai 
all  is  not  the  work  of  some  master  of  art,  and  intended  for 
the  accompaniment  of  a  magnificent  residence.  Some  of 
the  trees  are  five  or  six  hundred  years  old. 

In  Connecticut,  Monte  Video,  the  seat  of  Daniel  Wads- 
worth,  Esq.,  near  Hartford,  is  worthy  of  commendation,  as 
it  evinces  a  good  deal  of  beauty  in  its  grounds,  and  is  one 
of  the  most  tasteful  in  the  state.  The  residence  of  James 
Hillhouse,  Esq.,  near  New-Haven,  is  a  pleasing  specimen 
of  the  simplest  kind  of  Landscape  Gardening,  where  grace- 
ful forms  of  trees,  and  a  gently  sloping  surface  of  grass, 
are  the  principal  features.  The  villa  of  Mr.  Whitney 
near  New-Haven,  is  one  of  the  most  tastefully  managed  in 
the  state.  In  Maine,  the  most  remarkable  seat,  as  respects, 
landscape  gardening  and  architecture,  is  that  of  Mr.  Gar- 
diner, of  Gardiner. 

The  environs  of  Boston  are  more  highly  cultivated  than 
.hose  of  any  other  city  in  North  America.  There  are  here 
whole  rural  neighborhoods  of  pretty  cottages  and  villas,  ad- 
mirably cultivated,  and,  in  many  cases,  tastefully  laid  out 
and  planted.  The  character  of  even  the  finest  of  these 
olaces  is,  perhaps,  somewhat  suburban,  as  compared  with 
Jiose  of  the  Hudson  river,  but  we  regard  them  as  furnish- 


54  LANDSCAPE    GARDENING. 

ing  admirable  hints  for  a  class  of  residence  likely  to  beconne 
more  numerous  than  any  other  in  this  country — the  taste 
ful  suburban  cottage.  The  owner  of  a  small  cottage  resi- 
dence may  have  almost  every  kind  of  beauty  and  enjoy- 
ment in  his  grounds  that  the  largest  estate  will  afford,  so 
far  as  regards  the  interest  of  trees  and  plants,  tasteful  ar- 
rangement, recreation,  and  occupation.  Indeed,  we  have 
little  doubt  that  he,  who  directs  personally  the  curve  of 
every  walk,  selects  and  plants  every  shrub  and  tree,  and 
watches  with  solicitude  every  evidence  of  beauty  and  pro- 
gress, succeeds  in  extracting  from  his  tasteful  grounds  of 
half  a  dozen  acres,  a  more  intense  degree  of  pleasure,  than 
one  who  is  only  able  to  direct  and  enjoy,  in  a  general 
sense,  the  arrangement  of  a  vast  estate. 

Belmont,  the  seat  of  J.  P.  Gushing,  Esq.,  is  a  residence 
of  more  note  than  any  other  near  Boston  ;  but  this  is, 
chiefly,  on  account  of  the  extensive  ranges  of  glass,  the 
forced  fruits,  and  the  high  culture  of  the  gardens.  A  new 
and  spacious  mansion  has  recently  been  erected  here,  and 
the  pleasure-grounds  are  agreeably  varied  with  fine  groups 
and  masses  of  trees  and  shrubs  on  a  pleasing  lawn. 
(Fig.  10.) 

The  seat  of  Col.  Perkins,  at  Brookline,  is  one  of  the 
most  interesting  in  this  neighborhood.  The  very  beautiful 
lawn  here,  abounds  with  exquisite  trees,  finely  disposed ; 
among  them,  some  larches  and  Norway  firs,  with  many 
other  rare  trees  of  uncommon  beauty  of  form.  At  a  short 
distance  is  the  villa  residence  of  Theodore  Lyman,  Esq., 
remarkable  for  the  unusually  fine  avenue  of  Elms  leading 
to  the  house,  and  for  the  beautiful  architectural  taste  dis- 
played in  the  dwelling  itself.     The  seat  of  the  Hon.  John 


».« - 


Km-  iU.     Belmont  PJace.  iieav  Bostuiu  the  Seat  of  J.  1'.  Ciishiiig.  Kai 


Ki:r.  IJ       Mr    Uumis  Coltiijie.  .Mount  Holly,  N  .  .f. 


HISTORICAL    NOTICES.  55 

Lowell,  at  Roxbury,  possesses  also  many  interesting  gar- 
dening features.* 

Pine  Bank,  the  Perkins  es'ate,  on  the  border  of 
Jamaica  lake,  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  residences 
near  Boston.  The  natural  surface  of  the  ground  is  ex- 
ceedingly flowing  and  graceful,  and  it  is  varied  by  two  or 
three  singular  little  dimples,  or  hollows,  which  add  to  its 
effect.  The  pei'fect  order  of  the  grounds  ;  the  beauty  of 
the  walks,  sometimes  skirting  the  smooth  open  lawn,  en- 
riched with  rare  plants  and  shrubs,  and  then  winding  by 
the  shadowy  banks  of  the  Avater ;  the  soft  and  quiet  cha- 
racter of  the  lake  itself, — its  margin  richly  fringed  with 
trees,  which  conceal  here  and  there  a  pretty  cottage,  its 
firm  clean  beach  of  gravel,  and  its  water  of  crystal  purity ; 
all  these  features  make  this  place  a  little  gem  of  natural 

*  We  Americans  are  proverbially  impatient  of  delay,  and  a  few  years  in 
prospect  appear  an  endless  futurity.  So  much  is  this  the  feeling  with  many, 
that  we  verily  believe  there  are  hundreds  of  our  countiy  places,  which  owe 
their  bareness  and  destitution  of  foliage  to  the  idea,  so  common,  that  it  requires 
"  an  age"  for  forest  trees  to  "  grow  up." 

The  middle-aged  man  hesitates  about  the  good  of  planting  what  he  imagines 
he  shall  never  see  arriving  at  maturity,  and  even  many  who  are  younger,  con- 
ceive that  it  requires  more  than  an  ordinary  hfetime  to  rear  a  fine  wood  of 
planted  trees.  About  two  years  since,  we  had  the  pleasure  of  visiting  the  seat 
of  the  late  Mr.  Lowell,  whom  we  found  in  a  green  old  age,  still  enjoying,  with 
the  enthusiasm  of  youth,  the  pleasures  of  Horticulture  and  a  country  life.  For 
the  encouragement  of  those  who  are  ever  complaining  of  the  tardy  pace  with 
which  the  growth  of  trees  advances,  we  will  here  record  that  we  accompanied 
Mr.  L.  through  a  belt  of  fine  woods  (skirting  part  of  his  residence),  nearly  half 
a  mile  in  length,  consisting  of  almost  all  our  finer  hardy  trees,  many  of  them 
apparently  full  grown,  the  whole  of  which  had  been  planted  by  him  when  he 
was  thhty-two  years  old.  At  that  time,  a  soUtary  elm  or  two  were  almost 
the  only  trees  upon  his  estate.  We  can  hardly  conceive  a  more  rational  source 
of  pride  or  enjoyment,  than  to  be  able  thus  to  walk,  in  the  decline  of  years, 
beneath  the  shadow  of  umbrageous  woods  and  groves,  planted  by  our  own 
hands,  and  whose  growth  has  become  ahnost  identified  with  our  own  pro- 
i;re,ss  and  existence. 


56  LA\DriCAPE    GARDEMNG. 

and  artistical  harmony,  and  beauty.  Mr.  Perkins  has  jusi 
rebuih  the  house,  in  the  style  of  a  French  maison  de  cam- 
pagne ;  and  Pine  Bank  is  now  adorned  with  a  most 
complete  residence  in  the  latest  continental  taste,  from 
the  designs  of  M.  Lemoulnier. 

On  the  other  side  of  the  lake  is  the  cottage  of  Thomas 
Lee,  Esq.  Enthusiastically  fond  of  botany,  and  gardening 
in  all  its  departments,  Mr.  Lee  has  here  formed  a  residence 
of  as  much  variety  and  interest  as  we  ever  saw  in  so 
moderate  a  compass — about  20  acres.  It  is,  indeed,  not 
only  a  most  instructive  place  to  the  amateur  of  landscape 
gardening,  but  to  the  naturalist  and  lover  of  plants.  Every 
shrub  seems  placed  precisely  in  the  soil  and  aspect  it  hkes 
best,  and  native  and  foreign  Rhododendrons,  Kalmias,  and 
other  rare  shrubs,  are  seen  here  in  the  finest  condition. 
There  is  a  great  deal  of  variety  in  the  surface  here,  and 
while  the  lawn-front  of  the  house  has  a  polished  and 
graceful  air,  one  or  two  other  portions  are  quite  picturesque. 
Near  the  entrance  gate  is  an  English  oak,  only  fourteen 
years  planted,  now  forty  feet  high. 

The  whole  of  this  neighborhood  of  Brookline  is  a  kind 
of  landscape  garden,  and  there  is  nothing  in  America,  of 
the  sort,  so  inexpressibly  charming  as  the  lanes  which  lead 
from  one  cottage,  or  villa,  to  another.  No  animals  are 
allowed  to  run  at  large,  and  the  open  gates,  with  tempting 
vistas  and  glimpses  under  the  pendent  boughs,  give  it  quite 
an  Arcadian  air  of  rural  freedom  and  enjoyment.  These 
lanes  are  clothed  with  a  profusion  of  trees  and  wild  shrub- 
bery, often  almost  to  the  carriage  tracks,  and  curve  and 
wind  about,  in  a  manner  quite  bewildering  to  the  stranger 
who  attempts  to  thread  them  alone  ;  and  there  are  more 
hints  here  for  the  lover  of  the  picturesque  in  lanes,  than 


"View  in  the  Grounds  at  Pine  Bank. 


\H'W  ill  tile  (iroiiiidf:.  of  James  Aniolil,  lOsij 


HISTORICAL    NOTICES.  57 

we  ever  saw  assembled  together  in  so  small  a  com- 
pass. 

In  the  environs  of  New  Bedford  are  many  beautiful  resi- 
dences. Among  these,  we  desire  particularly  to  notice  the 
residence  of  James  Arnold,  Esq.  There  is  scarcely  a  small 
place  in  Ne\v  England,  where  the  pleasure-grounds  are  so 
full  of  variety,  and  in  such  perfect  order  and  keeping,  as  at 
this  charming  spot ;  and  its  winding  walks,  open  bits  of 
lawn,  shrubs  and  plants  grouped  on  turf,  shady  bowers, 
and  rustic  seats,  all  most  agreeably  combined,  render  this 
a  very  interesting  and  instructive  suburban  seat. 

In  New  Jersey,  the  grounds  of  the  Count  de  Survilliers, 
at  Bordentown,  are  very  extensive  ;  and  although  the  sur- 
face is  mostly  flat,  it  has  been  well  varied  by  extensive 
plantations.  At  Mount  Holly,  about  twenty  miles  from 
Camden,  is  Mr.  Dunn's  unique,  semi-oriental  cottage,  with 
a  considerable  extent  of  pleasure  ground,  newly  planted, 
after  the  designs  of  Mr.  Notman.    (Fig.  11.) 

About  Philadelphia  there  are  several  very  interesting 
seats  on  the  banks  of  the  Delaware  and  Schuylkill,  and 
the  district  between  these  two  rivers. 

The  country  seat  of  George  Sheaff,  Esq.,  one  of  the  most 
remarkable  in  Pennsylvania,  in  many  respects,  is  twelve 
miles  north  of  Philadelphia.  The  house  is  a  large  and  re- 
spectable mansion  of  stone,  surrounded  by  pleasure-grounds 
and  plantations  of  fine  evergreen  and  deciduous  trees.  The 
conspicuous  ornament  of  the  grounds,  however,  is  a  mag- 
nificent white  oak,  of  enormous  size,  whose  wide  stretching 
branches,  and  grand  head,  give  an  air  of  dignity  to  the 
whole  place.  (Fig.  12.)  Among  the  sylvan  features  here, 
most  interesting,  are  also  the  handsome  evergreens,  chiefly 
Balsam  or  Balm  of  Gilead  firs,  some  of  which  are  now 


58  LANDSCAPE    GARDENING. 

much  higher  than  the  mansion.  These  trees  were  planted 
by  Mr.  Sheaff  twenty-two  years  ago,  and  were  then  so 
small,  that  they  were  brought  by  him  from  Philadelphia, 
at  various  times,  in  his  carriage — a  circumstance  highly 
encouraging  to  despairing  planters,  when  we  reflect  how 
comparatively  slow  growing  is  this  tree.  This  whole  es- 
tate is  a  striking  example  of  science,  skill,  and  taste, 
applied  to  a  country  seat,  and  there  are  few  in  the  Union, 
taken  as  a  whole,  superior  to  it.* 

Cottage  residence  of  Mrs.  Camac.  This  is  one  of  the 
most  agreeable  places  within  a  few  miles  of  Philadelphia. 
The  house  is  a  picturesque  cottage,  in  the  rural  gothic 
style,  with  very  charming  and  appropriate  pleasure  grounds, 
comprising  many  groups  and  masses  of  large  and  finely 
grown  trees,  interspersed  with  a  handsome  collection  of 
shrubs  and  plants;  the  whole  very  tastefully  arranged. 
(Fig.  13.)  The  lawn  is  prettily  varied  in  surface,  and 
there  is  a  conservatory  attached  to  the  house,  in  which  the 
plants  in  pots  are  hidden  in  beds  of  soft  green  moss,  and 
which,  in  its  whole  effect  and  management,  is  more  tasteful 
and  elegant  than  any  plant  house,  connected  with  a  dwell- 
ing,  that  we  remember  to  have  seen. 

»  The  farm  is  300  acres  in  extent,  and,  in  the  time  of  De  Witt  Clinton,  was 
pronounced  by  him  the  model  farm  of  the  United  States.  At  the  present  time 
we  know  nothing  superior  to  it ;  and  Capt.  Barclay,  in  his  agricultural  tour,  says 
It  was  the  only  instance  of  regular,  scientific  system  of  husbandry  in  the  Eng- 
lish manner,  he  saw  in  America.  Indeed,  the  large  and  regular  fields,  filled 
with  luxuriant  crops,  everywhere  of  an  exact  evenness  of  growth,  and  every- 
where free  from  weeds  of  any  sort ;  the  perfect  system  of  manuring  and  cul- 
ture ;  the  simple  and  complete  fences  ;  the  fine  stock  ;  the  very  spacious  bams, 
every  season  newly  whitewashed  internally  and  externally,  paved  with  wood, 
and  as  clean  as  a  gentleman's  stable  (with  stalls  to  fatten  90  head  of  cattle)  ; 
these,  and  the  masteriy  way  in  which  the  whole  is  managed,  both  as  regards 
culture  and  profit,  render  this  estate  one  of  no  common  interest  in  an  agricul- 
tural, as  well  as  ornamental  point  of  view. 


Fig.  12.    The  Seat  of  George  SheafF,  Esq. 


Fis;.  13.     Mrs.  Camac's  Residence. 


HISTORICAL    N0TICE3.  5y 

Stanton,  near  Germantown,  four  miles  from  Philadelphia, 
is  a  fine  old  place,  with  many  pictm'esque  featm'es.  The 
farm  consists  of  700  acres,  almost  without  division  fences — 
admirably  managed — and  remarkable  for  its  grand  old 
avenue  of  the  hemlock  spruce,  110  years  old,  leading  to  a 
family  cemetery  of  much  sylvan  beauty.  There  is  a  large 
and  excellent  old  mansion,  with  paved  halls,  built  in  1731, 
which  is  preserved  in  its  original  condition.  This  place 
was  the  seat  of  the  celebrated  Logan,  the  friend  of  William 
Penn,  and  is  now  owned  by  his  descendant,  Albanus  Logan. 
The  villa  residence  of  Alexander  Brown,  Esq.,  is  situated 
on  the  Delaware,  a  few  miles  from  Philadelphia.  There 
is  here  a  good  deal  of  beauty,  in  the  natural  style,  made  up 
chiefly  by  lawn  and  forest  trees.  A  pleasing  drive  through 
plantations  of  25  years'  growth,  is  one  of  the  most  interest- 
ing features — and  there  is  much  elegance  and  high  keeping 
n  the  grounds. 

Below  Philadelphia,  the  lover  of  beautiful  places  will 
find  a  good  deal  to  admire  in  the  country  seat  of  John  R. 
Latimer,  Esq.,  near  Wilmington,  which  enjoys  the  reputa- 
tion of  being  the  finest  in  Delaware.  The  place  has  all 
the  advantages  of  high  keeping,  richly  stocked  gardens  and 
conservatories,  and  much  natural  beauty,  heightened  by 
judicious  planting,  arrangement,  and  culture. 

At  the  south  are  many  extensive  country  residences  re- 
markable for  trees  of  unusual  grandeur  and  beauty,  among 
which  the  live  oak  is  very  conspicuous  ;  but  they  are,  in 
general,  wanting  in  that  high  keeping  and  care,  which  is 
so  essential  to  the  charm  of  a  landscape  garden. 

Of  smaller  villa  residences,  suburban  chiefly,  there  are 
great  numbers,  springing  up  almost  by  magic,  in  the  bor- 
ders of  our  towns  and  cities.     Though  the  possessors  of 


60  LANDSCAPE    GARDENING. 

these  can  scarcely  hope  to  introduce  anything  approaching 
to  a  landscape  garden  style,  in  laying  out  their  limited 
grounds,  still  they  may  be  greatly  benefited  by  an  ac- 
quaintance with  the  beauties  and  the  pleasures  of  this 
species  of  rural  embellishment.  When  we  are  once  master 
of  the  principles,  and  aware  of  the  capabilities  of  an  art, 
we  are  able  to  infuse  an  expression  of  tasteful  design,  or 
an  air  of  more  correct  elegance,  even  into  the  most  humble 
works,  and  with  very  limited  means. 

While  we  shall  endeavor,  in  the  following  pages,  to  give 
such  a  view  of  modern  Landscape  Gardening,  as  will  enable 
the  improver  to  proceed  with  his  fascinating  operations,  in 
embellishing  the  country  residence,  in  a  practical  mode, 
based  upon  what  are  now  generally  received  as  the  correct 
principles  of  the  art,  we  would  desire  the  novice,  after 
making  himself  acquainted  with  all  that  can  be  acquired 
from  written  works  within  his  reach,  to  strengthen  his  taste 
and  add  to  his  knowledge,  by  a  practical  inspection  of  the 
best  country  seats  among  us.  In  an  infant  state  of  society, 
in  regard  to  the  fine  arts,  much  will  be  done  in  violation  of 
good  taste ;  but  here,  where  nature  has  done  so  much  for 
us,  there  is  scarcely  a  large  country  residence  in  the  Union, 
from  which  useful  hints  in  Landscape  Gardening  may  not 
be  taken.  And  in  nature,  a  group  of  trees,  an  accidental 
pond  of  water,  or  some  equally  simple  object,  may  form  a 
study  more  convincing  to  the  mind  of  a  true  admirer  of 
natural  beauty,  than  the  most  carefully  drawn  plan,  or  the 
most  elaborately  written  description. 


BEAUTIES    AND    PRINCIPLES    OF    THE    ART.  61 


SECTION  II. 

BEAUTIES    AND    PRINCIPLES    OF    THE    ART. 

IJapacities  of  the  art.  The  beauties  of  the  ancient  style.  The  modern  style.  The  Beauti 
ful  and  the  Picturesque:  their  distinctive  characteristics.  Illustrations  drawn  from 
Nature  and  Painting.  Nature  and  principles  of  Landscape  Gardening  as  an  Imitative 
art.  Distinction  between  the  Beautiful  and  Picturesque.  The  principles  of  Unity 
Harmony,  and  Variety. 

"  Here  Nature  in  her  unaffected  dresse, 
Plaited  with  vallies  and  imbost  with  hills, 
Enchast  with  silver  streams,  and  fringed  with  woods 

Sits  lovely." — 

Chamberlatne, 

"  II  est  des  soins  plus  doux,  un  art  plus  enchanteur. 
C'est  peu  de  charmer  I'ceil,  il  faut  parler  au  ccEur. 
Avez-vous  done  connu  ces  rapports  invisibles, 
Des  corps  inanimes  et  des  etres  sensibles? 
Avez-vous  entendu  des  eaux,  des  pres,  des  bois. 
La  muette  eloquence  et  la  secrete  voix  1 
Rendez-nous  ces  effets."  Les  Jardins,  Book  I. 

E  F  O  R  E  we  proceed  to  a  detailed  and 
more  practical  consideration  of  the  subject, 
let  us  occupy  ourselves  for  a  moment  with 
the  consideration  of  the  different  results 
which  are  to  be  sought  after,  or,  in  other 
^'  "^^  words,  what  kinds  of  beauty  we  may  hope  to 
produce  by  Landscape  Gardening.  To  attempt  the  smallest 
work  in  any  art,  without  knowing  either  the  capacities  of 


62 


LANDSCAPE    GARDENING. 


that  art,  or  the  schools,  or  modes,  by  which  it  has  previous 
]y  been  characterized,  is  but  to  be  groping  about  in  a  dim 
twilight,  without  the  power  of  knowing,  even  should  we  be 
successful  in  our  efforts,  the  real  excellence  of  our  produc- 
tion ;  or  of  judging  its  merit,  comparatively,  as  a  work  of 
taste  and  imagination. 


[Fig.  14.    The  Geometric  style,  from  an  old  print.] 

The  beauties  elicited  by  the  ancient  style  of  gardening 
were  those  of  regularity,  symmetry,  and  the  display  of 
labored  art.  These  were  attained  in  a  merely  mechanical 
manner,  and  usually  involved  little  or  no  theory.  The 
geometrical  form  and  lines  of  the  buildings  were  only  ex- 
tended and  carried  out  in  the  garden.  In  the  best  classical 
models,  the  art  of  the  sculptor  conferred  dignity  and  ele- 
gance on  the  garden,  by  the  fine  forms  of  marble  vases  and 
statues  ;  in  the  more  intricate  and  labored  specimens  of  the 


BEAUTIES    AND    PRINCIPLES    OF    THE    ART.  (j3 

Dutch  school,  prevalent  in  England  in  the  time  of  William 
TV.  (Fig.  14),  the  results  evince  a  fertility  of  odd  conceits, 
rather  than  the  exercise  of  taste  or  imagination.  Indeed, 
as,  to  level  ground  naturally  uneven,  or  to  make  an  avenue, 
by  planting  rows  of  trees  on  each  side  of  a  broad  walk, 
requires  only  the  simplest  perception  of  the  beauty  of  ma- 
thematical forms,  so,  to  lay  out  a  garden  in  the  geometric 
style,  became  little  more  than  a  formal  routine,  and  it  was 
only  after  the  superior  interest  of  a  more  natural  manner 
was  enforced  by  men  of  genius,  that  natural  beauty  of 
expression  was  recognised,  and  Landscape  Gardening  was 
raised  to  the  rank  of  a  fine  art. 

The  ancient  style  of  gardening  may,  however,  be  intro- 
duced with  good  effect  in  certain  cases.  In  public  squares 
and  gardens,  where  display,  grandeur  of  effect,  and  a  highly 
artificial  character  are  desirable,  it  appears  to  us  the  most 
suitable ;  and  no  less  so  in  very  small  gardens,  in  which 
variety  and  irregularity  are  out  of  the  question.  Where  a 
taste  for  imitating  an  old  and  quaint  style  of  residence 
exists,  the  symmetrical  and  knotted  garden  would  be  a 
proper  accompaniment ;  and  pleached  alleys,  and  sheared 
trees,  would  be  admired,  like  old  armor  or  furniture,  as 
curious  specimens  of  antique  taste  and  custom. 

The  earliest  professors  of  modern  Landscape  Gardening 
have  generally  agreed  upon  two  variations,  of  which  the 
art  is  capable — variations  no  less  certainly  distinct,  on  the 
one  hand,  than  they  are  capable  of  intermingling  and  com- 
bining, on  the  other.  These  are  the  beautiful  and  the.  pic- 
turesque :  or,  to  speak  more  definitely,  the  beauty  charac- 
terized by  simple  and  flowing  forms,  and  that  expressed  by 
striking,  irregular,  spirited  forms. 

The  admirer  of  nature,  as  well  as  the  lo^^er  of  pictures 


64  LANDSCAPE    GARDENING. 

and  engravings,  will  at  once  call  to  mind  examples  ot 
scenery  distinctly  expressive  of  each  of  these  kinds  of 
beauty.  In  nature,  perhaps  some  gently  undulating  plain, 
covered  with  emerald  turf,  partially  or  entirely  encompassed 
by  rich,  rolling  outlines  of  forest  canopy, — its  wildest  ex- 
panse here  broken  occasionally,  by  noble  groups  of  round- 
headed  trees,  or  there  interspersed  wdth  single  specimens 
whose  trunks  support  heads  of  foliage  flowing  in  outline, 
or  drooping  in  masses  to  the  very  turf  beneath  them.  In 
such  a  scene  we  often  behold  the  azure  of  heaven,  and  its 
silvery  clouds,  as  well  as  the  deep  verdure  of  the  luxuriant 
and  shadowy  branches,  reflected  in  the  placid  bosom  of  a 
silvan  lake  ;  the  shores  of  the  latter  swelling  out,  and  reced- 
ing, in  gentle  curved  lines  ;  the  banks,  sometimes  covered 
with  soft  turf  sprinkled  with  flowers,  and  in  other  portions 
clothed  with  luxuriant  masses  of  verdant  shrubs.  Here  are 
all  the  elements  of  what  is  termed  natural  beauty, — or  a 
landscape  characterized  by  simple,  easy,  and  flowing  lines. 
For  an  example  of  the  opposite  character,  let  us  take  a 
stroll  to  the  nearest  woody  glen  in  your  neighborhood— 
perhaps  a  romantic  valley,  half  shut  in  on  two  or  more 
sides  by  steep  rocky  banks,  partially  concealed  and  over- 
hung by  clustering  vines,  and  tangled  thickets  of  deep 
foliage.  Against  the  sky  outline  breaks  the  wild  and  irre- 
gular form  of  some  old,  half  decayed  tree  near  by,  or  the 
horizontal  and  unique  branches  of  the  larch  or  the  pine, 
with  their  strongly  marked  forms.  Rough  and  irregular 
stems  and  trunks,  rocks  half  covered  with  mosses  and 
flowering  plants,  open  glades  of  bright  verdure  opposed  to 
dark  masses  of  bold  shadowy  foliage,  form  prominent  ob- 
jects in  the  foreground.  If  water  enlivens  the  scene,  we 
shall  hear  the  murmur  of  the  noisy  brook,  or  the  cool  dash- 


BEAUTIES    AND    PRINCIPLES    OF    THE    ART.  65 

ing  of  the  cascade,  as  it  leaps  over  the  rocky  barrier.  Let 
the  stream  turn  the  ancient  and  well-worn  wheel  of  the  old 
mill  in  the  middle  ground,  and  we  shall  have  an  illustration 
of  the  picturesque,  not  the  less  striking  from  its  familiarity 
to  every  one. 

To  the  lover  of  the  fine  arts,  the  name  of  Claude  Lor- 
raine cannot  fail  to  suggest  examples  of  beauty  in  some  of 
its  purest  and  most  simple  forms.  In  the  best  pictures  of 
this  master,  we  see  portrayed  those  graceful  and  flowing 
forms  in  trees,  foreground,  and  buildings,  which  delight  so 
much  the  lover  of  noble  and  chaste  beauty, — compositions 
emanating  from  a  harmonious  soul,  and  inspired  by  a  cli- 
mate and  a  richness  of  nature  and  art  seldom  surpassed. 

On  the  other  hand,  where  shall  we  find  all  the  elements 
of  the  picturesque  more  graphically  combined  than  in  the 
vigorous  landscapes  of  Salvator  Rosa !  Li  those  rugged 
scenes,  even  the  lawless  aspects  of  his  favorite  robbers  and 
banditti  are  not  more  spirited,  than  the  bold  rocks  and  wild 
passes  by  which  they  are  surrounded.  And  in  the  produc- 
tions of  his  pencil  we  see  the  influence  of  a  romantic  and 
vigorous  imagination,  nursed  amid  scenes  teeming  with 
the  grand  as  well  as  the  picturesque — both  of  which  he 
embodied  in  the  most  striking  manner. 

In  giving  these  illustrations  of  beautiful  and  of  pictu- 
resque scenes,  we  have  not  intended  them  to  be  understood 
in  the  light  of  exact  models  for  imitation  in  Landscape 
Gardening — only  as  striking  examples  of  expression  in 
natural  scenery.  Although  in  nature  many  landscapes 
parlake  in  a  certain  degree  of  both  these  kinds  of  expression, 
yet  it  is  no  doubt  true  that  the  effect  is  more  satisfactory, 
where  either  the  one  or  the  other  character  predominates. 
The  accomplished  amateur  should  be  able  to  seize  at  once 


60  LANDSCAPE    GARDENING. 

upon  the  characteristics  of  these  two  species  of  beauty  in 
all  scenery.  To  assist  the  reader  in  this  kind  of  discrimi- 
nation, we  shall  keep  these  expressions  constantly  in  view, 
and  we  hope  we  shall  be  able  fully  to  illustrate  the  differ- 
ence in  the  expression  of  even  single  trees,  in  this  respect. 
A  few  strongly  marked  objects,  either  picturesque  or  simply 
beautiful,  will  often  confer  their  character  upon  a  whole 
landscape  ;  as  the  destruction  of  a  single  group  of  bold 
rocks,  covered  with  wood,  may  render  a  scene,  once  pictu- 
resque, completely  insipid. 

The  early  writers  on  the  modern  style  were  content  with 
trees  allowed  to  grow  in  their  natural  forms,  and  with  an 
easy  assemblage  of  sylvan  scenery  in  the  pleasure-grounds, 
which  resembled  the  usual  woodland  features  of  nature. 
The  effect  of  this  method  will  always  be  interesting,  and  an 
agreeable  effect  will  always  be  the  result  of  following  the 
simplest  hints  derived  from  the  free  and  luxuriant  forms  of 
nature.  No  residence  in  the  country  can  fail  to  be  pleasing, 
whose  features  are  natural  groups  of  forest  trees,  smooth 
lawn,  and  hard  gravel  walks. 

But  this  is  scarcely  Landscape  Gardening  in  the  true 
sense  of  the  word,  although  apparently  so  understood  by 
many  writers.  By  Landscape  Gardening,  we  understand 
not  only  an  imitation,  in  the  grounds  of  a  country  residence, 
of  the  agreeable  forms  of  nature,  but  an  expressive,  harmo- 
nious, and  refined  i?nitation*     In  Landscape  Gardening, 

*  "  Thus,  there  is  a  beauty  of  nature  and  a  beauty  of  art.  To  copy  the 
beauty  of  nature  cannot  be  called  being  an  artist  in  the  highest  sense  of  the 
word,  as  a  mechanical  talent  only  is  requisite  for  this.  The  beautiful  in  art 
depends  on  ideas;  and  the  true  artist, therefore, must  possess,  together  with  the 
talent  for  technical  execution,  that  genial  power  which  revels  freely  in  rich 
forms,  and  is  capable  of  producing  and  animating  them.  It  is  by  this,  that  the 
Jierit  of  the  artist  and  his  production  is  to  be  judged  ;  and  these  cannot  be 


BEAUTIES    AND    PRINCIPLES    OF    THE    ART.  67 

we  should  aim  to  separate  the  accidental  and  extraneous 
in  nature,  and  to  preserve  only  the  spirit,  or  essence.  This 
subtle  essence  lies,  we  believe,  in  the  expression  more  or 
'ess  pervading  every  attractive  portion  of  nature.  And  it 
s  by  eliciting,  preserving,  or  heightening  this  expression, 
that  we  may  give  our  landscape  gardens  a  higher  charm, 
than  even  the  polish  of  art  can  bestow. 

Now,  the  two  most  forcible  and  complete  expressions  to 
be  found  in  that  kind  of  natural  scenery  which  may  be 
reproduced  in  Landscape  Gardening,  are  the  Beautiful 
and  the  PicTUREsauE.  As  we  look  upon  these  as  quite 
distinct,  and  as  success  in  practical  embellishment  must 
depend  on  our  feeling  and  understanding  these  expressions 
beforehand,  it  is  necessary  that  we  should  attach  some 
definite  meaning  to  terms  which  we  shall  be  continually 
obliged  to  employ.  This  is,  indeed,  the  more  requisite,  from 
the  vague  and  conflicting  opinions  of  most  preceding  writers 
on  this  branch  of  the  subject ;  some,  like  Repton,  insisting 
that  they  are  identical ;  and  others,  like  Price,  that  they 
are  widely  different. 

Gilpin  defines  Picturesque  objects  to  be  "  those  which 
please  from  some  quality  capable  of  being  illustrated  in 
painting." 

Nothing  can  well  be  more  vague  than  such  a  definition. 
We  have  already  described  the  difference  between  the 
beautiful  landscapes  of  Claude  and  the  picturesque  scenes 
painted  by  Salvator.     No  one  can  deny  their  being  essen- 

properly  estimated  among  those  barren  copyists  which  we  find  so  many  of  our 
flower,  landscape,  and  portrait  painters  to  be.  But  the  artist  stands  much 
higher  in  the  scale,  who,  though  a  copyist  of  visible  nature,  is  capable  of  seiz- 
ing it  with  poetic  feeling,  and  representing  it  in  its  more  dignified  sense  ;  sucb, 
for  example,  as  Raphael,  Poussin,  Claude,  &c." — Weinbreitneb. 


68  LANDSCAPE    GARDENING. 

tially  distinct  in  character ;  and  no  one,  we  imagine,  will 
deny  that  they  both  please  from  "  some  quality  capable  oi 
being  illustrated  in  painting."  The  beautiful  female  heads 
of  Carlo  Dolce  are  widely  different  from  those  of  the  pictu- 
resque peasant  girls  of  Gerard  Douw,  yet  both  are  favorite 
subjects  with  artists.  A  symmetrical  American  elm,  with 
its  wide  head  drooping  with  garlands  of  graceful  foliage,  is 
very  different  in  expression  from  the  wild  and  twisted  larch 
or  pine  tree,  which  we  find  on  the  steep  sides  of  a  moun- 
tain ;  yet  both  are  favorite  subjects  with  the  painter.  It  is 
clear,  indeed,  that  there  is  a  widely  different  idea  hidden 
under  these  two  distinct  types,  in  material  forms. 

Beauty,  in  all  natural  objects,  as  we  conceive,  arises 
from  their  expression  of  those  attributes  of  the  Creator — ■ 
infinity,  unity,  symmetry,  proportion,  etc. — which  he  has 
stamped  more  or  less  visibly  on  all  his  works ;  and  a  beau- 
tiful living  form  is  one  in  which  the  individual  is  a  harmo- 
nious and  well  balanced  development  of  a  fine  type.  Thus, 
taking  the  most  perfect  specimens  of  beauty  in  the  human 
figure,  we  see  in  them  symmetry,  proportion,  unity, 
and  grace — the  presence  of  everything  that  could  add 
to  the  idea  of  perfected  existence.  In  a  beautiful  tree, 
such  as  a  fine  American  elm,  we  see  also  the  most  complete 
and  perfect  balance  of  all  its  parts,  resulting  from  its 
growth  under  the  most  favorable  influences.  It  realizes, 
then,  perfectly,  the  finest  form  of  a  fine  type  or  species  of 
tree. 

But  all  nature  is  not  equally  Beautiful.  Both  in  living 
things  and  in  inorganized  matter,  we  see  on  all  sides  evi- 
dences of  nature  strugghng  with  opposing  forces.  Moun- 
tains are  upheaved  by  convulsions,  valleys  are  broken  into 
fearful  chasms.     Certain  forms  of  animal  and  vegetable  life 


BEAUTIES    AND    PRINCIPLES    OF    THE    ART.  69 

.  nstead  of  manifesting  themselves  in  those  more  complete 
and  perfect  forms  of  existence  where  the  matter  and  spirit 
are  ahnost  in  perfect  harmony,  appear  to  struggle  for  the 
full  expression  of  their  character  with  the  material  form, 
and  to  express  it  only  with  difficulty  at  last.  What  is 
achieved  with  harmony,  grace,  dignity,  almost  with  appa- 
rent repose,  by  existences  whose  type  is  the  Beautiful,  is 
done  only  with  violence  and  disturbed  action  by  the  former. 
This  kind  of  manifestation  in  nature  we  call  the  Pictures- 
que. 

More  concisely,  the  Beautiful  is  nature  or  art  obeying 
the  universal  laws  of  perfect  existence  (i.  e.  Beauty), 
easily,  freely,  harmoniously,  and  without  the  display  of 
power.  The  Picturesque  is  nature  or  art  obeying  the  same 
laws  rudely,  violently,  irregularly,  and  often  displaying 
power  only. 

Hence  we  find  all  Beautiful  forms  characterized  by  curved 
and  flowing  lines — lines  expressive  of  infinity,*  of  grace, 
and  willing  obedience  :  and  all  Picturesque  forms  character 
ized  by  irregular  and  broken  lines — lines  expressive  of  vio- 
lence, abrupt  action,  and  partial  disobedience,  a  strug- 
gling of  the  idea  with  the  substance  or  the  condition  of  its 
being.  The  Beautiful  is  an  idea  of  beauty  calmly  and  har- 
moniously expressed  ;  the  Picturesque  an  idea  of  beauty  or 
power  strongly  and  irregularly  expressed.  As  an  example 
of  the  Beautiful  in  other  arts  we  refer  to  the  Apollo  of  the 
Vatican  ;  as  an  example  of  the  Picturesque,  to  the  Laocoon 
or  the  Dying  Gladiator.     In  nature  we  would  place  before 

*  Hogarth  called  the  curve  the  line  of  beauty,  and  all  artists  have  felt  instinct- 
vely  its  power,  but  Mr.  Ruskin  (in  Modem  Painters)  was,  we  beheve,  the 
first  to  suggest  the  cause  of  that  power — that  it  expresses  in  its  varying  ten- 
dencies, the  infinite. 


70  LANDSCAPE    GARDENING. 

the  reader  a  finely  formed  elm  or  chestnut,  whose  wel 
balanced  head  is  supported  on  a  trunk  full  of  symmetry  and 
dignity,  and  whose  branches  almost  sweep  the  turf  in  their 
rich  luxuriance  ;  as  a  picturesque  contrast,  some  pine  or 
larch,  whose  gnarled  roots  grasp  the  rocky  crag  on  which  it 
grows,  and  whose  wild  and  irregular  branches  tell  of  the 
storm  and  tempest  that  it  has  so  often  struggled  against.* 

In  pictures,  too,  one  often  hears  the  Beautiful  confounded 
with  the  Picturesque.  Yet  they  are  quite  distinct ;  though 
in  many  subjects  they  may  be  found  harmoniously  com- 
bined. Some  of  Raphael's  angels  may  be  taken  as  perfect 
illustrations  of  the  Beautiful.  In  their  serene  and  heavenly 
countenances  we  see  only  that  calm  and  pure  existence  ot 
which  perfect  beauty  is  the  outward  type ;  on  the  other  hand, 
Murillo's  beggar  boys  are  only  picturesque.  What  we  ad- 
mire in  them  (beyond  admirable  execution)  is  not  their  rags 
or  their  mean  apparel,  but  a  certain  irregular  struggling 
of  a  better  feeling  within,  against  this  outward  poverty  of 
nature  and  condition. 

Architecture  borrows,  partly  perhaps  by  association,  the 
same  expression.  We  find  the  Beautiful  in  the  most  sym- 
metrical edifices,  built  in  the  finest  proportions,  and  of  the 
purest  materials.  It  is,  on  the  other  hand,  in  some  irregu- 
lar castle  formed  for  defence,  some  rude  mill  nearly  as  wild  as 
the  glen  where  it  is  placed,  some  thatched  cottage,  weather 
stained  and  moss  covered,  that  we  find  the  Picturesque. 
The  Temple  of  Jupiter  Olympus  in  all  its  perfect  proportions 

»  This  also  explains  why  trees,  though  they  retain  for  the  most  part  their 
characteristic  fomis,  vary  somewhat  in  expression  according  to  their  situation. 
Thus  the  larch,  though  always  picturesque,  is  far  more  so  in  mountain  ridges 
where  it  is  exposed  to  every  blast,  than  in  sheltered  lawns  where  it  only  finds 
.left  airs  and  sunshine. 


BEAUTIES    AND    PEINCIPLES    OF    THE    ART.  71 

was  prized  by  the  Greeks  as  a  model  of  beauty ;  we,  who 
see  only  a  few  columns  and  broken  architraves  standing 
with  all  their  exquisite  mouldings  obliterated  by  the  vio 
lence  of  time  and  the  elements,  find  them  Picturesque. 

To  return  to  a  more  practical  view  of  the  subject, 
we  may  remark,  that  though  we  consider  the  Beautiful  and 
the  Picturesque  quite  distinct,  yet  it  by  no  means  follows 
that  they  may  not  be  combined  in  the  same  landscape. 
This  is  often  seen  in  nature  ;  and  indeed  there  are  few 
landscapes  of  large  extent  where  they  are  not  thus  harmo- 
niously combined. 

But  it  must  be  remembered,  that  while  Landscape  Gar- 
dening is  an  imitation  of  nature,  yet  it  is  rarely  attempted 
on  so  large  a  scale  as  to  be  capable  of  the  same  extended 
harmony  and  variety  of  expression  ;  and  also,  that  in  Land- 
scape Gardening  as  in  the  other  fine  arts,  we  shall  be  more 
successful  by  directing  our  efforts  towards  the  production 
of  a  leading  character  or  expression,  than  by  endeavor- 
ing to  join  and  harmonize  several. 

Our  own  views  on  this  subject  are  simply  these.  When 
a  place  is  small,  and  only  permits  a  single  phase  of  natural 
expression,  always  endeavor  to  heighten  or  to  make  that 
single  expression  predominate  ;  it  should  clearly  either  aim 
only  at  the  Beautiful  or  the  Picturesque. 

When,  on  the  contrary,  an  estate  of  large  size  comes 
within  the  scope  of  the  Landscape  Gardener,  he  is  at  liberty 
to  give  to  each  separate  scene  its  most  fitting  character ; 
he  will  thus,  if  he  is  a  skilful  artist,  be  able  to  create  great 
variety  both  of  beautiful  and  picturesque  expression,  and 
he  will  also  be  able  to  give  a  higher  proof  of  his  power,  viz. 
by  uniting  all  those  scenes  into  one  whole,  by  bringing 
them  all  into  harmony.  An  artist  who  can  do  this  has 
reached  the  ultimatum  of  his  ai-t. 


72  LANDSCAPE    GARDENING. 

Ao-ain  and  ao;ain  has  it  been  said,  that  Landscape  Gar* 
dening  and  Painting  are  allied.  In  no  one  point  does  it  ap- 
pear to  us  that  they  are  so,  more  than  in  this — that  in  pro- 
portion to  the  limited  nature  of  the  subject  should  simpli- 
city and  unity  of  expression  be  remembered.  In  some  of 
the  finest  smaller  compositions  of  Raphael,  or  some  of  the 
Landscapes  of  Claude,  so  fully  is  this  borne  in  mind,  that 
every  object,  however  small,  seems  to  be  instinct  with  the 
same  expression  ;  w^hile  in  many  of  the  great  historical 
pictures,  unity  and  harmony  are  wrought  out  of  the  most 
complex  f  ariety  of  expression. 

We  must  not  be  supposed  to  find  in  nature  only  the 
Beautiful  and  the  Picturesque.  Grandeur  and  Sublimity 
are  also  expressions  strongly  marked  in  many  of  the  noblest 
portions  of  natural  landscape.  But,  except  in  very  rare 
instances,  they  are  wholly  beyond  the  powers  of  the  land- 
scape gardener,  at  least  in  the  comparatively  limited  scale 
of  his  operations  in  this  country.  All  that  he  has  to  do,  is 
to  respect  them  where  they  exist  in  natural  landscape  which 
forms  part  of  his  work  of  art,  and  so  treat  the  latter,  as 
to  make  it  accord  with,  or  at  least  not  violate,  the  higher 
and  predominant  expression  of  the  whole. 

There  are,  however,  certain  subordinate  expressions 
which  may  be  considered  as  qualities  of  the  Beautiful,  and 
which  may  originally  so  prevail  in  natural  landscape,  or  be 
so  elicited  or  created  by  art,  as  to  give  a  distinct  character 
to  a  small  country  residence,  or  portions  of  a  large  one. 
These  are  simplicity,  dignity,  grace,  elegance,  gaiety, 
chasteness,  &c.  It  is  not  necessary  that  we  should  go 
nto  a  labored  explanation  of  these  expressions.  They  are 
more  or  less  familiar  to  all.  A  few  fine  trees,  scattered 
and  grouped  over  any  surface  of  smooth  lawn,  will  give  a 


BEAUTIES    AND    PRINCIPLES    OF    THE    ART.  73 

character  of  simple  beauty ;  lofty  trees  of  great  age, 
hills  covered  with  rich  wood,  an  elevation  commanding  a 
wide  country,  stamp  a  site  with  dignity  ;  trees  of  full  and 
graceful  habit  or  gently  curving  forms  in  the  lawn,  walks, 
and  all  other  objects,  will  convey  the  idea  of  grace  ;  as 
finely  formed  and  somewhat  tall  trees  of  rare  species,  or  a 
great  abundance  of  bright  climbers  and  gay  flowering  shrubs 
and  plants,    will    confer  characters  of  elegance  and  gaiety. 

He  who  would  create  in  his  pleasure  grounds  these  more 
delicate  shades  of  expression,  must  become  a  profound  stu- 
dent both  of  nature  and  art ;  he  must  be  able,  by  his 
own  original  powers,  to  seize  the  subtle  essence,  the  half 
disclosed  idea  involved  in  the  finest  parts  of  nature,  and  to 
reproduce  and  develope  it  in  his  Landscape  Garden. 

Leaving  such,  however,  to  a  broader  range  of  study  than 
a  volume  like  this  would  afford,  we  may  offer  what,  per- 
haps, will  not  be  unacceptable  to  the  novice — a  more  de- 
tailed sketch  of  the  distinctive  features  of  the  Beautiful  and 
the  Picturesque,  as  these  expressions  should  be  embodied 
in  Landscape  Gardening. 

The  Beautiful  in  Landscape  Gardening  (Fig.  15)  is 
produced  by  outlines  whose  curves  are  flowing  and  gradual, 
surfaces  of  softness,  and  growth  of  richness  and  luxuriance. 
In  the  shape  of  the  ground,  it  is  evinced  by  easy  undulations 
melting  gradually  into  each  other.  In  the  form  of  trees,  by 
smooth  stems,  full,  round,  or  symmetrical  heads  of  foliage, 
and  luxuriant  branches  often  drooping  to  the  ground, — which 
is  chiefly  attained  by  planting  and  grouping,  to  allow  free 
development  of  form  ;  and  by  selecting  trees  of  suitable  cha- 
racter, as  the  elm,  the  ash,  and  the  like.  In  walks  and 
roads,  by  easy  flowing  curves,  following  natural  shapes  ot 
.he  surface,  with  no  sharp  angles  or  abrupt  turns.     In  water, 


74  LANDSCAPE    GARDENING. 

by  the  smooth  lake  with  curved  margin,  embellished  with 
flowing  outlines  of  trees,  and  full  masses  of  flowering 
shrubs — or  in  the  easy  winding  curves  of  a  brook.  The 
keeping  of  such  a  scene  should  be  of  the  most  polished 
kind, — grass  mown  into  a  softness  like  velvet,  gravel  walks 
scrupulously  firm,  dry,  and  clean ;  and  the  most  perfect 
order  and  neatness  should  reign  throughout.  Among  the 
trees  and  shrubs  should  be  conspicuous  the  finest  foreign 
sorts,  distinguished  by  beauty  of  form,  foliage,  and  blossom; 
and  rich  groups  of  shrubs  and  flowering  plants  should  be 
arranged  in  the  more  dressed  portions  near  the  house. 
And  finallv,  considering  the  house  itself  as  a  feature  in  the 
scene,  it  should  properly  belong  to  one  of  the  classical 
modes  ;  and  the  Italian,  Tuscan,  or  Venetian  forms  are 
preferable,  because  these  have  both  a  polished  and  a 
domestic  air,  and  readily  admit  of  the  graceful  accom- 
paniments of  vases,  urns,  and  other  harmonious 
accessories.  Or,  if  we  are  to  have  a  plainer  dwelling, 
it  should  be  simple  and  symmetrical  in  its  character,  and 
its  veranda  festooned  with  masses  of  the  finest  climbers. 

The  Picturesque  in  Landscape  Gardening  (Fig.  16) 
aims  at  the  production  of  outlines  of  a  certain  spirited 
irregularity,  surfaces  comparatively  abrupt  and  broken, 
and  growth  of  a  somewhat  wild  and  bold  character.  The 
shape  of  the  ground  sought  after,  has  its  occasional 
smoothness  varied  by  sudden  variations,  and  in  parts  runs 
into  dingles,  rocky  groups,  and  broken  banks.  The  trees 
should  in  many  places  be  old  and  irregular,  with  rough 
stems  and  bark  ;  and  pines,  larches,  and  other  trees  of 
striking,  irregular  growth,  must  appear  in  numbers  sufficient 
to  give  character  to  the  woody  outlines.  As,  to  produce 
'iie  Beautiful,  the  trees  are  planted  singly  in  open  groups 


BEAUTIES    AND    PRINCIPLES    OF    THE    ART.  75 

to  allow  full  expansion,  so  for  the  Picturesque,  the  grouping 
takes  every  variety  of  form ;  almost  every  object  should 
group  with  another ;  trees  and  shrubs  are  often  planted 
closely  together  ;  and  intricacy  and  variety — thickets — ■ 
glades — and  underwood — as  in  wild  nature,  are  indispensa- 
ble. Walks  and  roads  are  more  abrupt  in  their  windings, 
turning  off  frequently  at  sudden  angles  where  the  form  of 
the  ground  or  some  inviting  object  directs.  In  water,  all 
the  wildness  of  romantic  spots  in  nature  is  to  be  imitated 
or  preserved  ;  and  the  lake  or  stream  with  bold  shore  and 
rocky,  v/ood-fringed  margin,  or  the  cascade  in  the  secluded 
dell,  are  the  characteristic  forms.  The  keeping  of  such  a 
landscape  will  of  course  be  less  careful  than  in  the 
graceful  school.  Firm  gravel  walks  near  the  house,  and 
a  general  air  of  neatness  in  that  quarter,  are  indispensable 
to  the  fitness  of  the  scene  in  all  modes,  and  indeed  properly 
evince  the  recognition  of  art  in  all  Landscape  Gardening. 
But  the  lawn  may  be  less  frequently  mown,  the  edges  of 
the  walks  less  carefully  trimmed,  where  the  Picturesque 
prevails  ;  while  in  portions  more  removed  from  the  house, 
the  walks  may  sometimes  sink  into  a  mere  footpath 
without  gravel,  and  the  lawn  change  into  the  forest  glade 
or  meadow.  The  architecture  which  belongs  to  the 
picturesque  landscape,  is  the  Gothic  mansion,  the  old 
English  or  the  Swiss  cottage,  or  some  other  striking 
forms,  with  bold  projections,  deep  shadows,  and  irregular 
outlines.  Rustic  baskets,  and  similar  ornaments,  may 
abound  near  the  house,  and  in  the  more  frequented  parts 
of  the  place. 

The  recognition  of  art,  as  Loudon  justly  observes,  is  a 
first  principle  in  Landscape  Gardening,  as  in  all  other  ai-ts  ; 
and  those  of  its  professors  have  erred,  who  supposed  that 


76  LANDSCAPE    GARDENING. 

the  object  of  this  art  is  merely  to  produce  a  fac-simile  of 
nature,  that  could  not  be  distinguished  from  a  wild  scene. 
But  we  contend  that  this  principle  may  be  fully  attained 
with  either  expression — the  picturesque  cottage  being  as 
well  a  work  of  art  as  the  classic  villa ;  its  baskets,  and 
seats  of  rustic  work,  indicating  the  hand  of  man  as  well 
as  the  marble  vase  and  balustrade  ;  and  a  walk,  sometimes 
narrow  and  crooked,  is  as  certainly  recognised  as  man's 
work,  as  one  always  regular  and  flowing.  Foreign  trees 
of  picturesque  growth  are  as  readily  obtained  as  those  of 
beautiful  forms.  The  recognition  of  art  is,  therefore, 
always  apparent  in  both  modes.  The  evidences  are 
indeed  stronger  and  more  multiplied  in  the  careful  polish 
of  the  Beautiful  landscape,*  and  hence  many  prefer  this 
species  of  landscape,  not,  as  it  deserves  to  be  preferred, 
because  it  displays  the  most  beautiful  and  perfect  ideas  in 
its  outlines,  the  forms  of  its  trees,  and  all  that  enters  into 
its  composition,  but  chiefly  because  it  also  is  marked  by 
that  careful  polish,  and  that  completeness,  which  imply 
the  expenditure  of  money,  which  they  so  well  know  how 
to  value. 

If  we  declare  that  the  Beautiful  is  the  more  perfect 
expression  in  landscape,  we  shall  be  called  upon  to  explain 
why  the  Picturesque  is  so  much  more  attractive  to  many 
minds.     This,  we  conceive,  is  owing  partly  to  the  imper- 

*  The  beau  ideal  in  Landscape  Gardening,  as  a  fine  art,  appears  to  us  to  be 
embraced  in  the  creation  of  scenery  full  of  expression,  as  the  beautiful  or  pic- 
turesque, the  materials  of  which  are,  to  a  certain  extent,  different  from  those  in 
wild  nature,  being  composed  of  the  floral  and  arboricultural  riches  of  all  climates, 
as  far  as  possible  ;  uniting  in  the  same  scene,  a  richness  and  a  variety  never  to 
be  found  in  any  one  portion  of  nature  ; — a  scene  characterized  as  a  work  of  art, 
by  the  variety  of  the  materials,  as  foreign  trees,  plants,  &c.,  and  by  the  polish 
and  keeping  of  the  grounds  in  the  natural  style,  as  distinctly  as  by  the  uniform 
»nd  sj-mmetrical  arrangement  in  the  ancient  style. 


BEAUTIES    AND    PRINCIPLES    OF    THE    ART.  77 

let. lion  of  our  natures  by  which  most  of  us  sympathize 
more  with  that  in  which  the  struggle  between  spirit  and 
matter  is  most  apparent,  than  with  that  in  which  the 
union  is  harmonious  and  complete ;  and  partly  because 
from  the  comparative  rarity  of  highly  picturesque  land- 
scape, it  affects  us  more  forcibly  when  brought  into 
contrast  with  our  daily  life.  Artists,  we  imagine,  find 
somewhat  of  the  same  pleasure  in  studying  wild  land- 
scape, where  the  very  rocks  and  trees  seem  to  struggle 
with  the  elements  for  foothold,  that  they  do  in  contem- 
plating the  phases  of  the  passions  and  instincts  of 
human  and  animal  life.  The  manifestation  of  power  is 
to  many  minds  far  more  captivating  than  that  of  beauty. 

All  who  enjoy  the  charms  of  Landscape  Gardening, 
may  perhaps  be  divided  into  three  classes  :  those  who  have 
arrived  only  at  certain  primitive  ideas  of  beauty  which 
are  found  in  regular  forms  and  straight  lines ;  those  who 
in  the  Beautiful  seek  for  the  highest  and  most  perfect 
development  of  the  idea  in  the  material  form  ; 
and  those  who  in  the  Picturesque  enjoy  most  a  certain 
wild  and  incomplete  harmony  between  the  idea  and  the 
forms  in  which  it  is  expressed. 

As  the  two  latter  classes  embrace  the  whole  range 
of  modern  Landscape  Gardening,  we  shall  keep  distinctly 
in  view  their  two  governing  principles — the  Beautiful  and 
the  Picturesque,  in  treating  of  the  practice  of  the  art. 

There  are  always  circumstances  which  must  exert  a 
controlling  influence  over  amateurs,  in  this  country,  in 
choosing  between  the  two.  These  are,  fixed  locality,  ex- 
uense,  individual  preference  in  the  style  of  building,  and 
many  others  which  readily  occur  to  all.  The  great  variety 
of  attractive  sites  in  the  older  parts  of  the  country,  afford  an 


78  LANDSCAPE    GARDENINO. 

abundance  of  opportunity  for  either  taste  Within  the  last 
five  years,  we  think  the  Picturesque  is  begnining  to  be  pre- 
ferred. It  has,  when  a  suitable  locahty  offers,  great  advan- 
tages for  us.  The  raw  materials  of  wood,  water,  and  sur- 
face, by  the  margin  of  many  of  our  rivers  and  brooks,  are 
at  once  appropriated  with  so  much  effect,  and  so  Httle  art, 
in  the  picturesque  mode  ;  the  annual  tax  on  the  purse  too 
is  so  comparatively  little,  and  the  charm  so  great ! 

While,  on  one  hand,  the  residences  of  a  country  of  level 
plains  usually  allow  only  the  beauty  of  simple  and  grace- 
ful forms ;  the  larger  demesne,  with  its  swelling  hills  and 
noble  masses  of  wood  (may  we  not,  prospectively,  say  the 
rolling  prairie  too?),  should  always,  in  the  hands  of  the 
man  of  wealth,  be  made  to  display  all  the  breadth,  va- 
riety, and  harmony  of  both  the  Beautiful  and  the  Pictu- 
resque. 

There  is  no  surface  of  ground,  however  bare,  which  has 
not,  naturally,  more  or  less  tendency  to  one  or  the  other  of 
these  expressions.  And  the  improver  who  detects  the  true 
character,  and  plants,  builds,  and  embellishes,  as  he  should, 
constantly  aiming  to  elicit  and  strengthen  it — will  soon 
arrive  at  a  far  hisrher  and  more  satisfactorv  result,  than  one 
who,  in  the  common  manner,  works  at  random.  The  latter 
may  succeed  in  producing  pleasing  grounds — he  will  un- 
doubtedly add  to  the  general  beauty  and  tasteful  appearance 
of  the  country,  and  we  gladly  accord  him  our  thanks.  But 
the  improver  who  unites  with  pleasing  forms  an  expres- 
sion of  sentiment,  will  affect  not  only  the  common  eye,  but 
much  more  powerfully,  the  imagination,  and  the  refined 
and  delicate  taste. 

But  there  are  many  persons  with  small  cottage  places, 
of  little   decided  character,  who  have  neither  room,  time, 


BEAUTIES    AND    PRINCIPLES    OF    THE    AKT.  79 

nor  income,  to  attempt  the  improvement  of  their  grounds 
fully,  after  either  of  those  two  schools.  How  shall  they 
render  their  places  tasteful  and  agreeable,  in  the  easiest 
manner  ?  We  answer,  by  attempting  only  the  simple  and 
the  natural ;  and  the  unfailing  way  to  secure  this,  is  by 
employing  as  leading  features  only  trees  and  grass,  A 
soft  verdant  lawn,  a  few  forest  or  ornamental  trees 
well  grouped,  walks,  and  a  few  flowers,  give  universal 
pleasure  ;  they  contain  in  themselves,  in  fact,  the  basis  of 
all  our  agreeable  sensations  in  a  landscape  garden  (na- 
tural beauty,  and  the  recognition  of  art) ;  and  they  are 
the  most  enduring  sources  of  enjoyment  in  any  place. 
There  are  no  country  seats  in  the  United  States  so  unsa- 
tisfactory and  tasteless,  as  those  in  which,  without  any 
definite  aim,  everything  is  attempted ;  and  a  mixed  jumble 
of  discordant  forms,  materials,  ornaments,  and  decorations, 
is  assembled — a  part  in  one  style  and  a  bit  in  another, 
•without  the  least  feeling  of  unity  or  cong.c^lty.  These 
rural  bedlams,  full  of  all  kinds  of  absurdities,  without  a 
leading  character  or  expression  of  any  sort,  cost  their 
owners  a  vast  deal  of  trouble  and  money,  without  giving  a 
tasteful  mind  a  shadow  of  the  beauty  which  it  feels  at  the 
first  glimpse  of  a  neat  cottage  residence,  with  its  simple, 
sylvan  character  of  well  kept  lawn  and  trees.  If  the  latter 
does  not  rank  high  in  the  scale  of  Landscape  Gardening 
as  an  art,  it  embodies  much  of  its  essence  as  a  source  oi 
enjoyment — the  production  of  the  Beautiful  in  country 
residences. 

Besides  the  beauties  of  form  and  expression  in  the  differ- 
ent modes  of  laying  out  grounds,  there  are  certain  univer- 
sal and  inherent  beauties  common  to  all  styles,  and,  indeed, 
to  every  composition  in  the  fine  arts.     Of  these,  we  shal 


80  LANDSCAPE    GARDENING. 

especially  point  out  those  growing  out  of  the  principles  of 

UNITY,  HARMONY,  and  VARIETY. 

Unity,  or  the  production  of  a  lohole,  is  a  leading 
principle  of  the  highest  importance,  in  every  art  of  taste  or 
design,  without  which  no  satisfactory  result  can  be 
realized.  This  arises  from  the  fact,  that  the  mind  can  only 
attend,  with  pleasure  and  satisfaction,  to  one  object,  or  one 
composite  sensation,  at  the  same  time.  If  two  distinct 
objects,  or  classes  of  objects,  present  themselves  at  once  to 
us,  we  can  only  attend  satisfactorily  to  one,  by  withdraw- 
ing our  attention  for  the  time  from  the  other.  Hence  the 
necessity  of  a  reference  to  this  leading  principle    of  unity. 

To  illustrate  the  subject,  let  us  suppose  a  building, 
partially  built  of  wood,  with  square  windows,  and  the 
remainder  of  brick  or  stone,  with  long  and  narrow 
windows.  However  well  such  a  building  may  be  con- 
structed, or  however  nicely  the  different  proportions  of  the 
edifice  may  bo  adjusted,  it  is  evident  it  can  never  form  a 
satisfactory  whole.  The  mind  can  only  account  for  such 
an  absurdity,  by  supposing  it  to  have  been  built  by  two 
individuals,  or  at  two  different  times,  as  there  is  nothing 
indicating  unity  of  mind  in  its  composition. 

In  Landscape  Gardening,  violations  of  the  principle  of 
unity  are  often  to  be  met  Avith,  and  they  are  always  indi- 
cative of  the  absence  of  correct  taste  in  art.  Looking  upon 
a  landscape  from  the  windows  of  a  villa  residence,  we 
sometimes  see  a  considerable  portion  of  the  view  embraced 
by  the  eye,  laid  out  in  natural  groups  of  trees  and  shrubs, 
and  upon  one  side,  or  perhaps  in  the  middle  of  the  same 
scene,  a  formal  avenue  leading  directly  up  to  the  house. 
Such  a  view  can  never  appear  a  satisfactory  whole, 
because  we  experience  a  confusion  of  sensations  in  con- 


BEAUTIES    ANU    PRINCIPLES    OF    THE    AKT.  81 

temp.ating  it.  There  is  an  evident  incongruity  in  bringing 
two  modes  of  arranging  plantations,  so  totally  different, 
under  the  eye  at  one  moment,  which  distracts,  rather  than 
pleases  the  mind.  In  this  example,  the  avenue,  taken  by 
itself,  may  be  a  beautiful  object,  and  the  groups  and  con- 
nected masses  may,  in  themselves,  be  elegant ;  yet  if  the 
two  portions  are  seen  together,  they  will  not  form  a  whole, 
because  they  cannot  make  a  composite  idea.  For  the 
same  reason,  there  is  something  unpleasing  in  the  introduc- 
tion of  fruit  trees  among  elegant  ornamental  trees  on  a 
lawn,  or  even  in  assembling  together,  in  the  same  beds, 
flowering  plants  and  culinary  vegetables — one  class  of 
vegetation  suggesting  the  useful  and  homely  alone  to  the 
mind,  and  the  other,  avowedly,  only  the  ornamental. 

In  the  arrangement  of  a  large  extent  of  surface,  where  a 
great  many  objects  are  necessarily  presented  to  the  eye  at 
once,  the  principle  of  unity  will  suggest  that  there  should 
be  some  grand  or  leading  features  to  which  the  others 
should  be  merely  subordinate.  Thus,  in  grouping  trees, 
there  should  be  some  large  and  striking  masses  to  which 
the  others  appear  to  belong,  however  distant,  instead  of 
scattered  groups,  all  of  the  same  size.  Even  in  arranging 
walks,  a  whole  will  more  readily  be  recognised,  if  there  are 
one  or  two  of  large  size,  with  which  the  others  appear 
connected  as  branches,  than  if  all  are  equal  in  breadth, 
and  present  the  same  appearance  to  the  eye  in  passing. 

In  all  works  of  art  which  command  universal  admiration 
we  discover  an  unity  of  conception  and  composition,  an 
unity  of  taste  and  execution.  To  assemble  in  a  single 
composition  forms  which  are  discordant,  and  portions 
dissimilar  in  plan,  can  only  afford  pleasure  for  a  short  time 
to  tasteless  minds,   or  those  fond  of  trifling  and   puerile 

6 


S2  LANDSCAPK    GAIIDENING. 

conceits.  The  production  of  an  accordant  whole  is,  on 
the  contrary,  capable  of  affording  the  most  permanent 
enjoyment  to  educated  minds,  everywhere,  and  at  all  periods 
of  time. 

After  unity,  the  principle  of  Variety  is  worthy  of  con- 
sideration, as  a  fertile  source  of  beauty  in  Landscape  Gar- 
dening. Variety  must  be  considered  as  belonging  more  to 
the  details  than  to  the  production  of  a  whole,  and  it  may 
be  attained  by  disposing  trees  and  shrubs  in  numerous  dif- 
ferent ways  ;  and  by  the  introduction  of  a  great  number  of 
different  species  of  vegetation,  or  kinds  of  walks,  ornamental 
objects,  buildings,  and  seats.  By  producing  intricacy,  it 
creates  in  scenery  a  thousand  points  of  interest,  and  elicits 
new  beauties,  through  different  arrangements  and  combi- 
nations of  forms  and  colors,  light  and  shades.  In  pleasure- 
grounds,  while  the  whole  should  exhibit  a  general  plan,  the 
different  scenes  presented  to  the  eye,  one  after  the  other, 
should  possess  sufficient  variety  in  the  detail  to  keep  aUve 
the  interest  of  the  spectator,  and  awaken  further  curiosity. 

Harmony  may  be  considered  the  principle  presiding  over 
variety,  and  preventing  it  from  becoming  discordant.  It, 
indeed,  always  supposes  contrasts,  but  neither  so  strong  nor 
so  frequent  as  to  produce  discord  ;  and  'variety,  but  not  so 
great  as  to  destroy  a  leading  expression.  In  plantations, 
we  seek  it  in  a  combination  of  qualities,  opposite  in  some 
respects,  as  in  the  color  of  the  foliage,  and  similar  in  others 
more  important,  as  the  form.  In  embellishments,  by  a  great 
variety  of  objects  of  interest,  as  sculptured  vases,  sun  dials, 
or  rustic  seats,  baskets,  and  arbors,  of  different  forms,  but  all 
in  accordance,  or  keeping  with  the  spirit  of  the  scene. 

To  illustrate  the  three  principles,  with  reference  to  Land- 
scape Gardening,  Ave  may  remark,  that,  if  unity  only  were 


BEAUTIES    AND    PRINCIPLES    OF    THE    AIIT.  83 

consulted,  a  scene  might  be  planted  with  but  one  kind  o' 
tree,  the  effect  of  which  would  be  sameness ;  on  the  othei 
hand,  variety  might  be  carried  so  far  as  to  have  every  tree 
of  a  different  kind,  which  would  produce  a  confused  effect. 
Harmon}?-,  however,  introduces  contrast  and  variety,  but 
keeps  them  subordinate  to  unity,  and  to  the  leading  expres 
sion ;  and  is,  thus,  the  highest  principle  of  the  three. 

In  this  brief  abstract  of  the  nature  of  imitation  in  Land- 
scape Gardening  and  the  kinds  of  beauty  which  it  is  possible 
to  produce  by  means  of  the  art,  we  have  endeavored  to 
elucidate  its  leading  principles,  clearly,  to  the  reader. 
These  grand  principles  we  shall  here  succinctly  recapitu- 
late, premising  that  a  familiarity  with  them  is  of  the  very 
first  importance  in  the  successful  practice  of  this  elegant 
art,  viz.  : 

The  Imitation  of  the  Beauty  of  Expression,  derived 
from  a  refined  perception  of  the  sentiment  of  nature  :  The 
Recognition  of  Art,  founded  on  the  immutabiUty  of  the 
true,  as  well  as  the  beautiful :  And  the  Production  of 
Unity,  Harmony,  and  Variety,  in  order  to  render  com- 
plete and  continuous,  our  enjoyment  of  any  artistical 
work. 

Neither  the  professional  Landscape  Gardener,  nor  the 
amateur,  can  hope  for  much  success  in  realizing  the  nobler 
effects  of  the  art,  unless  he  first  make  himself  master  of  the 
natural  character  or  prevailing  expression  of  the  place  to 
be  improved.  In  this  nice  perception,  at  a  glance,  of  the 
natural  expression,  as  well  as  the  capabilities  of  a  residence, 
lies  the  secret  of  the  superior  results  produced  even  by  the 
improver,  who,  to  use  the  words  of  Horace  Walpole,  "  is 
proud  of  no  other  art  than  that  of  softening  nature's  harsh- 
ness,  and  copying  her  graceful  touch."     When  we  discover 


«4  LANDSCAPE    GARDENING. 

the  picturesque  indicated  in  the  grounds  of  the  residence  to 
be  treated,  let  us  take  advantage  of  it ;  and  while  all  harsh- 
ness incompatible  with  scenery  near  the  house  is  removed, 
the  original  expression  may  in  most  cases  be  heightened,  in 
all  rendered  more  elegant  and  appropriate,  without  lower- 
ing it  in  force  or  spirit.  In  like  manner  good  taste  will 
direct  us  to  embellish  scenery  expressive  of  the  Beautiful, 
by  the  addition  of  forms,  whether  in  trees,  buildings,  or 
other  objects,  harmonious  in  character,  as  well  as  in  color 
and  outline. 


ON    WOOD    AND    PLANTATIONS.  R5 


SECTION  III. 


ON    WOOD. 

The  beauty  of  Trees  in  Rural  Embellishments.  Pleasure  resulting  from  their  cultivation 
Plantations  in  the  Ancient  Style  ;  their  formality.  In  the  Modern  Style  ;  grouping  trees 
Arrangement  and  grouping  in  the  Graceful  school ;  in  the  Picturesque  school.  lUustra 
tions  in  planting  villa,  ferme  ornte,  and  cottage  grounds.  General  classification  of  treo 
as  to  forms,  with  leading  characteristics  of  each  class. 

"  He  gains  all  points,  who  pleasingly  confounds, 
Surprises,  varies,  and  conceals  the  bounds. 
Calls  in  the  country,  catches  opening  glades. 
Joins  willing  woods,  and  varies  shades  from  shades  ; 
Now  breaks,  or  now  directs  the  intending  lines  ; 
Paints  as  you  plant,  and,  as  you  work,  designs." 

Pope. 


M  O  N  G  all  the  materials  at  our  disposal 
for  the  embellishment  of  country  resi- 
,  dences,  none  are  at  once  so  highly  orna- 
mental, so  indispensable,  and  so  easily  managed,  as  trees,  or 
wood.  We  introduce  them  in  every  part  of  the  landscape, 
— in  the  foreground  as  well  as  in  the  distance,  on  the  tops 
of  the  hills  and  in  the  depths  of  the  valleys.  They  are,  in- 
deed, like  the  drapery  which  covers  a  somewhat  ungainly 
figure,  and  while  it  conceals  its  defects,  communicates  to  it 
new  interest  and  expression. 

A  tree,  undoubtedly,  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  objects 
in  nature.  Airy  and  delicate  in  its  youth,  luxuriant  and 
majestic  in  its  prime,  venerable  and  picturesque  in  its  old 


86  I>ANDSCAPE    GAUDEMNG, 

age,  it  constitutes  in  its  various  forms,  sizes,  and  develop, 
ments,  the  greatest  charm  and  beauty  of  the  earth  in  all 
countries.  The  most  varied  outline  of  surface,  the  finest 
combination  of  picturesque  materials,  the  stateliest  country 
house  would  be  comparatively  tame  and  spiritless,  without 
the  inimitable  accompaniment  of  foliage.  Let  those  who 
have  passed  their  whole  lives  in  a  richly  wooded  country, 
— whose  daily  visions  are  deep  leafy  glens,  forest  clad  hills 
and  plains  luxuriantly  shaded, — transport  themselves  for  9 
moment  to  the  desert,  where  but  a  few  stunted  bushes  raise 
their  heads  above  the  earth,  or  those  wild  steppes  where 
the  eye  wanders  in  vain  for  some  "  leafy  garniture," — where 
the  sun  strikes  down  with  parching  heat,  or  the  wind 
sweeps  over  with  unbroken  fury,  and  they  may,  perhaps 
estimate,  by  contrast,  their  beauty  and  value. 

We  are  not  now  to  enumerate  the  great  usefulness  of 
trees, — their  value  in  the  construction  of  our  habitations, 
our  navies,  the  various  implements  of  labor, — in  short,  the 
thousand  associations  which  they  suggest  as  ministering  to 
our  daily  wants  ;  but  let  us  imagine  the  loveliest  scene,  the 
wildest  landscape,  or  the  most  enchanting  valley,  despoiled 
of  trees,  and  we  shall  find  nature  shorn  of  her  fair  propor- 
tions, and  the  character  and  expression  of  these  favorite 
spots  almost  entirely  destroyed. 

Wood,  in  its  many  shapes,  is  then  one  of  the  greatest 
sources  of  interest  and  character  in  Landscapes.  Variety, 
which  we  need  scarcely  allude  to  as  a  fertile  source  of 
beauty,  is  created  in  a  wonderful  degree  by  a  natural 
arrangement  of  trees.  To  a  pile  of  buildings,  or  even  of 
ruins,  to  a  group  of  rocks  or  animals,  they  communicate 
new  life  and  spirit  by  their  irregular  outlines,  which,  by 
partially  concealing  some  portions,  and  throwing  others 


ON    WOOD    AND    PLANTATIONS.  «/ 

into  stronger  light,  contribute  greatly  to  produce  intricacy 
and  variety,  and  confer  an  expression,  which,  without  these 
latter  qualities,  might  in  a  great  measure  be  wanting.  By 
shutting  out  some  parts,  and  inclosing  others,  they  divide 
the  extent  embraced  by  the  eye  into  a  hundred  different 
landscapes,  instead  of  one  tame  scene  bounded  by  the 
horizon. 

The  different  seasons  of  the  year,  too,  are  inseparably 
connected  in  our  minds  with  the  effects  produced  by  them 
on  woodland  scenery.  Spring  is  joyous  and  enlivening  to 
us,  as  nature  then  puts  on  her  fresh  livery  of  green,  and  the 
trees  bud  and  blossom  with  a  renewed  beauty,  that  speaks 
with  a  mute  and  gentle  eloquence  to  the  heart.  In  sum- 
mer they  offer  us  a  grateful  shelter  under  their  umbrageous 
arms  and  leafy  branches,  and  whisper  unwritten  music  to 
the  passing  breeze.  In  autumn  we  feel  a  melancholy 
thoughtfulness  as 

"  We  stand  among  the  fallen  leaves," 

and  gaze  upon  their  dying  glories.  And  in  winter  we  see 
in  them  the  silent  rest  of  nature,  and  behold  in  their  leaf- 
less spray,  and  seemingly  dead  limbs,  an  annual  type  of 
that  deeper  mystery — the  deathless  sleep  of  all  being. 

By  the  judicious  employment  of  trees  in  the  embellishment 
of  a  country  residence,  we  may  effect  the  greatest  alterations 
and  improvements  within  the  scope  of  Landscape  Garden- 
ing. Buildings  which  are  tame,  insipid,  or  even  mean  in 
appearance,  may  be  made  interesting,  and  often  picturesque, 
by  a  proper  disposition  of  trees.  Edifices,  or  parts  of  them 
hat  are  unsightly,  or  which  it  is  desirable  partly  or  wholly 
to  conceal,  can  readily  be  hidden  or  improved  by  wood  ; 
and  walks  and  roads,  which  otherwise  would  be  but  simple 


88  LANDSCAPE    GARDENING. 

ways  of  approach  from  one  point  to  another,  are,  by  an 
elegant  arrangement  of  trees  on  their  margins,  or  adjacent 
to  tliem,  made  the  most  interesting  and  pleasing  portions  of 
the  residence. 

In  Geometric  gardening,  trees  disposed  in  formal  lines, 
exhibit  as  strongly  art  or  design  in  the  contriver,  as  regU' 
lar  architectural  edifices ;  while,  in  a  more  elevated  and 
enlightened  taste,  we  are  able  to  dispose  them  in  our  plea- 
sure-grounds and  parks,  around  our  houses,  in  all  the  vari- 
ety of  groups,  masses,  thicket,  and  single  trees,  in  such  a 
manner  as  to  rival  the  most  beautiful  scenery  of  general 
nature ;  producing  a  portion  of  landscape  which  unites  with 
all  the  comforts  and  conveniences  of  rural  habitation,  the 
superior  charm  of  refined  arrangement,  and  natural  beauty 
of  expression. 

If  it  were  necessary  to  present  any  other  inducement 
to  the  country  gentleman  to  form  plantations  of  trees, 
than  the  great  beauty  and  value  which  they  add  to  his 
estate,  we  might  find  it  in  the  pleasure  which  all  derive 
from  their  cultivation.  Unlike  the  pleasure  arising  from 
the  gratification  of  our  taste  in  architecture,  or  any  other 
of  the  arts  whose  productions  are  offered  to  us  perfect 
and  complete,  the  satisfaction  arising  from  planting  and 
rearing  trees  is  never  weakened.  "  We  look,"  says  a 
writer,  "  upon  our  trees  as  our  oflfspring ;  and  nothing 
of  inanimate  nature  can  be  more  gratifying  than  to  see 
them  grow  and  prosper  under  our  care  and  attention, — 
nothing  more  interesting  than  to  examine  their  progress, 
and  mark  their  several  peculiarities.  In  their  progress 
from  plants  to  trees,  they  every  year  unfold  new  and 
characteristic  marks  of  their  ultimate  beauty,  which  not 
only  compensate  for  past  cares  and   troubles,  but  like  the 


0\    WOOD    AND    PLANTATIONS.  89 

returns  of  gratitude,  raise  a  most  delightful  train  of 
sensations  in  the  mind;  so  innocent  and  rational,  tlial 
they  may  justly  rank  with  the  most  exquisite  of  human 
enjoyments." 

"  Happy  is  he,  who  in  a  country  life 
Shuns  more  perplexing  toil  and  jarring  strife; 
Who  lives  upon  the  natal  soil  he  loves. 
And  sits  beneath  his  old  ancestral  groves." 

To  this,  let  us  add  the  complacent  feelings  with  which  a 
man  in  old  age  may  look  around  him  and  behold  these 
leafy  monarchs,  planted  by  his  boyish  hands  and  nurtured 
by  him  in  his  youthful  years,  which  have  grown  aged  and 
venerable  along  with  him  ; 

"  A  wood  coeval  with  himself  he  sees. 
And  loves  his  own  contemporary  trees." 

Plantations  in  the  Ancient  Style.  In  the  arrange- 
ment and  culture  of  trees  and  plants  in  the  ancient  style 
of  Landscape  Gardening,  we  discover  the  evidences  of 
the  formal  taste, — abounding  with  every  possible  variety 
of  quaint  conceits,  and  rife  with  whimsical  expedients, 
so  much  in  fashion  during  the  days  of  Henry  and  Eliza- 
beth, and  until  the  eighteenth  century  in  England,  and 
which  is  still  the  reigning  mode  in  Holland,  and  parts  of 
France.  In  these  gardens,  nature  was  tamed  and  subdued, 
or  as  some  critics  will  have  it,  tortured  into  every  shape 
which  the  ingenuity  of  the  gardener  could  suggest ;  and 
such  kinds  of  vegetation  as  bore  the  shears  most  patiently, 
and  when  carefully  trimmed,  assumed  gradually  the 
appearance  of  verdant  statues,  pyramids,  crowing  cocks, 
and  rampant  lions,   were   the    especial   favorites   of  the 


90  LANDSCAPE    GARDENING. 

gardeners  of  the  old  school.*  The  stately  etiquette  and 
courtly  precision  of  the  manners  of  our  English  ancestors, 
extended  into  their  gardens,  and  were  reflected  back  by  the 
very  trees  which  lined  their  avenues,  and  the  shrubs  which 
surrounded  their  houses.  "Nonsuch,  Theobalds,  Green- 
wich, Hampton  Court,  Hatfield,  Moor-Park,  Chatsworth, 
Beaconfield,  Cashiobury,  Ham,  and  many  another,"  says 
William  Howitt,  "  stood  in  all  that  stately  formality  which 
Henry  and  Elizabeth  admired ;  and  in  which  our  Surreys, 
Leicesters,  Essexes,  the  splendid  nobles  of  the  Tudor 
dynasty,  the  gay  ladies  and  gallants  of  Charles  II. 's  court, 
had  walked  and  talked, — fluttering  in  glittering  processions, 
or  flirting  in  green  alleys  and  bowers  of  topiary  work,  and 
amid  figures,  in  lead  or  stone,  fountains,  cascades, — • 
copper-trees  dropping  sudden  showers  on  the  astonished 
passers  under,  stately  terraces  with  gilded  balustrades,  and 
curious  quincunxes,  obelisks,  and  pyramids  ; — fitting  objects 
of  admiration  of  those  who  walked  in  high  heeled  shoes, 
ruffs,  and  fardingales,  with  fan  in  hand,  or  in  trunk  hose 
and  laced  doublet." 

Symmetrical  uniformity  governed  with  despotic  power 
even  the  trees  and  foliage,  in  the  ancient  style.  In  the 
more  simple  country  residences,  the  plantations  were 
always  arranged  in  some  regular  lines  or  geometrical 
figures.  Long  parallel  rows  of  trees  were  planted  for 
groves  and  avenues  along  the  principal  roads  and  walks. 
The  greatest  care  was  taken  to  avoid  any  appearance  of 
irregularity.  A  tree  upon  one  side  of  the  house  was 
opposed  by  another  vis  a  vis,  and  a  row  of  trees  at   the 

*  The  unique  ideal  of  the  "  Garden  of  Eden,"  by  one  of  the  old  Dutch 
Dainters,  with  sheared  hedges,  formal  alleys,  and  geometric  plots  of  flowers,  for 
the  entertainment  of  our  first  parents,  is  doubtless  familiar  to  our  readers. 


ON    WOOD    AND    PLANTATIONS. 


91 


right  of  the  mansion  had  its  always  accompanying  row 
un  the  left :  or,  as  Pope  in  his  Satire  has  more  rhythmically 
expressed  it — 

"  Grove  nods  at  grove,  each  alley  has  its  brother, 
And  half  the  platform  just  reflects  the  other." 

In  the  interior  of  the  park,  the  plantations  were  generally 
disposed  either  in  straight  avenues  crossing  each  other,  or 
clumped  in  the  form  of  circles,  stars,  squares,  etc.  ;  and 
long  vistas  were  obtained  through  the  avenues  divaricating 
from  the  house  in  various  directions,  over  level  surfaces. 
One  of  the  favorite  fancies  of  the  geometric  gardener 
was  the  Labyrinth  (fig.  17),  of  which  a  few  celebrated 
examples  are  still  in  existence  in  England,  and  which 
consisted  of  a  multitude  of  trees  thickly  planted  in 
impervious  hedges,  covering  sometimes  several  acres  ol 
ground.  These  labyrinths  were  the  source  of  much 
amusement  to  the  family  and  guests,  the  trial  of  skill  being 
to  find  the  centre,  and  from  that  point  to  return  again 
without  assistance ;  and  we  are  told  by  a  historian  of  the 
garden  of  that  period,  that  "the  stranger  having  once 
entered,  was  sorely  puzzled  to  get  out." 


IFi£.  17.    A  Labyrinth 


92  LANDSCAPE    GARDENING. 

Since  the  days  when  these  gardens  were  in  heir  glory 
the  taste  in  Landscape  Gardening  has  undergone  a  great 
change.  The  beautiful  and  the  picturesque  are  the  new 
elements  of  interest,  which,  entering  into  the  composition 
of  our  gardens  and  home  landscapes,  have  to  refined  minds 
increased  a  hundred  fold  the  enjoyment  derived  from  this 
species  of  rural  scenery.  Still,  there  is  much  to  admire 
in  the  ancient  style.  Its  long  and  majestic  avenues,  the 
wide-spreading  branches  interlacing  over  our  heads,  and 
forming  long,  shadowy  aisles,  are,  themselves  alone,  among 
the  noblest  and  most  imposing  sylvan  objects.  Even  the 
formal  and  curiously  knotted  gardens  are  interesting,  from 
the  pleasing  associations  which  they  suggest  to  the  mind, 
as  having  been  the  favorite  haunts  of  Shakspeare,  Bacon, 
Spenser,  and  Milton.  They  are  so  inseparably  connected, 
too,  in  our  imaginations,  with  the  quaint  architecture  of 
that  era,  that  wherever  that  style  of  building  is  adopted 
(and  we  observe  several  examples  already  among  us)  this 
style  of  gardening  may  be  considered  as  highly  appropriate, 
and  in  excellent  keeping  with  such  a  country  house. 

It  has  been  remarked,  that  the  geometric  style  would 
always  be  preferred  in  a  new  country,  or  in  any  country 
where  the  amount  of  land  under  cultivation  is  much  less 
than  that  covered  with  natural  woods  and  forests ;  as  the 
inhabitants  being  surrounded  by  scenery  abounding  with 
natural  beauty,  would  always  incline  to  lay  out  their  gar- 
dens and  pleasure-grounds  in  regular  forms,  because  the 
distinct  exhibition  of  art  would  give  more  pleasure  by  con- 
trast, than  the  elegant  imitation  of  beautiful  nature.  That 
this  is  true  as  regards  the  mass  of  uncultivated  minds,  we 
do  not  deny.  But  at  the  same  time  we  affirm  that  it 
evinces  a  meagre  taste,  and  a  lower  state  of  the  art,  or  a 


ON    WOOD    A.VD    PLANTATIONS.  93 

lower  perception  of  beauty  in  the  individual  who  employs 
the  geometrical  style  in  such  cases.  A  person,  whose 
place  is  surrounded  by  inimitably  grand  or  sublime  scenery, 
would  undoubtedly  fail  to  excite  our  admiration,  by  at- 
tempting a  fac-simile  imitation  of  such  scenery  on  the  small 
scale  of  a  park  or  garden ;  but  he  is  not,  therefore,  obliged 
to  resort  to  right-lined  plantations  and  regular  grass  plots, 
to  produce  something  which  shall  be  at  once  sufficiently 
different  to  attract  notice,  and  so  beautiful  as  to  command 
admiration.  All  that  it  would  be  requisite  for  him  to  do 
in  such  a  case,  would  be  to  employ  rare  and  foreign  orna- 
mental trees ;  as  for  example,  the  horse-chestnut  and  the 
linden,  in  situations  where  the  maple  and  the  sycamore  are 
the  principal  trees, — elegant  flowering  shrubs  and  beautiful 
creepers,  instead  of  sumacs  and  hazels, — and  to  have  his 
place  kept  in  high  and  polished  order,  instead  of  the  tan- 
gled wildness  of  general  nature. 

On  the  contrary,  were  a  person  to  desire  a  residence 
newly  laid  out  and  planted,  in  a  district  w^here  all  around 
is  in  a  high  state  of  polished  cultivation,  as  in  the  suburbs 
of  a  city,  a  species  of  pleasure  would  result  from  the  imita- 
tion of  scenery  of  a  more  spirited,  natural  character, 
as  the  picturesque,  in  his  grounds.  His  plantations  are 
made  in  irregular  groups,  composed  chiefly  of  picturesque 
trees,  as  the  larch,  &c. — his  walks  would  lead  through 
varied  scenes,  sometimes  bordered  with  groups  of  rocks 
overrun  with  flowering  creepers  and  vines  ;  sometimes 
with  thickets  or  little  copses  of  shrubs  and  flowering 
plants ;  sometimes  through  wild  and  comparatively  ne- 
glected portions  ;  the  whole  interspersed  whh  open  glades 
of  turf. 

In  the  majority  of  instances  in  the  United  States,  the 


94  LANDSCAPE    GARDENING. 

modern  style  of  Landscape  Gardening,  wherever  it  is  ap- 
preciated, will,  in  practice,  consist  in  arranging  a  demesne 
of  from  five  to  some  hundred  acres, — or  rather  that  portion 
of  it,  say  one  half,  one  third,  etc.,  devoted  to  lawn  and 
pleasure-ground,  pasture,  etc. — so  as  to  exhibit  groups  of 
forest  and  ornamental  trees  and  shrubs,  surrounding  the 
dwelling  of  the  proprietor,  and  extending  for  a  greater  or 
less  distance,  especially  towards  the  place  of  entrance  from 
the  public  highway.  Near  the  house,  good  taste  will  dic- 
tate the  assemblage  of  groups  and  masses  of  the  rarer  or 
more  beautiful  trees  and  shrubs ;  commoner  native  forest 
trees  occupying  the  more  distant  portions  of  the  grounds.* 
Plantations  in  the  Modern  Style.  In  the  Modern 
Style  of  Landscape  Gardening,  it  is  our  aim,  in  plantations, 
to  produce  not  only  what  is  called  natural  beauty,  but 
even  higher  and  more  striking  beauty  of  expression,  and  of 
individual  forms,  than  we  see  in  nature ;  to  create  variety 


*  Although  we  love  planting,  and  avow  that  there  are  few  greater  pleasures 
than  to  see  a  darling  tree,  of  one's  own  placing,  every  year  stretching  wider  its 
feathery  head  of  foliage,  and  covering  with  a  darker  shadow  the  soft  turf  beneath 
it,  still,  we  will  not  let  the  ardent  and  inexperienced  hunter  after  a  location  for 
a  country  residence,  pass  without  a  word  of  advice.  This  is,  always  to  make 
considerable  sacrifice  to  get  a  place  with  some  existing  wood,  or  a  few  ready 
grown  trees  upon  it ;  especially  near  the  site  for  the  house.  It  is  better  to 
yield  a  Uttle  in  the  extent  of  prospect,  or  in  the  direct  proximity  to  a  certain 
locaUty,  than  to  pitch  your  tent  in  a  plain, — desert-hke  in  its  bareness — on 
which  your  leafy  sensibilities  must  suffer  for  half  a  dozen  years  at  least,  before 
you  can  hope  for  any  solace.  It  is  doubtful  whether  there  is  not  almost  as 
much  interest  in  studying  from  one's  window  the  curious  ramifications,  the 
variety  of  form,  and  the  entire  harmony,  to  be  found  in  a  fine  old  tree,  as  in 
gazing  from  a  site  where  we  have  no  interruption  to  a  panorama  of  the  whole 
horizon  ;  and  we  have  generally  found  that  no  planters  have  so  little  courage 
and  faith,  as  those  who  have  commenced  without  the  smallest  group  of  large 
trees,  as  a  nucleus  for  their  plantations. 


N     WOOD    AND    PLANTATIONS. 


and  intricacy  m  the  grounds  of  a  residence  by  various 
modes  of  arrangement ;  to  give  a  highly  elegant  or  polished 
air  to  places  by  introducing  rare  and  foreign  species  ;  and 
to  conceal  all  defects  of  surface,  disagreeable  views,  un- 
sightly buildings,  or  other  offensive  objects. 

As  uniformity,  and  grandeur  of  single  effects,  were  the 
aim  of  the  old  style  of  arrangement,  so  variety  and  har- 
mony of  the  whole  are  the  results  for  which  we  labor  in 
the  modern  landscape.  And  as  the  Avenue,  or  the  straight 
line,  is  the  leading  form  in  the  geometric  arrangement  of 
plantations,  so  let  us  enforce  it  upon  our  readers,  the  Groui' 
is  equally  the  key-note  of  the  Modern  style.  The  smallest 
place,  having  only  thi'ee  trees,  may  have  these  pleasingly 
connected  in  a  group  ;  and  the  largest  and  finest  park — the 
Blenheim  or  Chatsworth,  of  seven  miles  square,  is  only 
composed  of  a  succession  of  groups,  becoming  masses, 
thickets,  woods.  If  a  demesne  with  the  most  beautiful 
surface  and  views  has  been  for  some  time  stiffly  and 
awkwardly  planted,  it  is  exceedingly  difficult  to  give  it  a 
natural  and  agreeable  air  ;  while  many  a  tame  level,  with 
scarcely  a  glimpse  of  distance,  has  been  rendered  lovely 
by  its  charming  groups  of  trees.  How  necessary,  therefore, 
is  it,  in  the  very  outset,  that  the  novice,  before  he  begins 
to  plant,  should  know  how  to  arrange  a  tasteful  group ! 

Nothing,  at  first  thought,  would  appear  easier  than  to 
arrange  a  few  trees  in  the  form  of  a  natural  and  beautiful 
group, — and  nothing  really  is  easier  to  the  practised  hand. 
Yet  experience  has  taught  us  that  the  generality  of  persons, 
in  commencing  their  first  essays  in  ornamental  planting, 
almost  invariably  crowd  their  trees  into  a  close,  regular 
clump,  which  has  a  most  formal  and  unsightly  appearance. 


30  LANDSCAPE    GARPENIIVO. 

as  different  as  possible  from  the  easy,  flowing  outline  of  the 
group.* 

"  Were  it  made  the  object  of  study,"  said  Price,  "  how 
to  invent  something,  which,  under  the  name  of  ornament, 
should  disfigure  a  whole  park,  nothing  could 
be  contrived  to  answer  that  purpose  like  a 
t.  clump.  Natural  groups,  being  formed  by  trees 
of  different  ages  and  sizes,  and  at  different  distances  from 
each  other,  often  too  by  a  mixture  of  those  of  the  largest 
size  with  others  of  inferior  growth,  are  full  of  variety  in 
their  outlines  ;  and  from  the  same  causes,  no  two  groups 
are  exactly  alike.  But  clumps,  from  the  trees  being  gene- 
rally of  the  same  age  and  growth,  from  their  being  planted 
nearly  at  the  same  distance,  in  a  circular  form,  and  from 
each  tree  being  equally  pressed  by  his  neighbor,  are  as  like 
each  other  as  so  many  puddings  turned  out  of  one  com- 
mon mould.  Natural  groups  are  full  of  openings  and 
hollows,  of  trees  advancing  before,  or  retiring  behind  each 
other  ;  all  productive  of  intricacy,  of  variety,  of  deep 
shadows  and  brilliant  lights  :  in  walking  about  them  the 
form  changes  at  every  step ;  new  combinations,  new  lights 
and  shades,  new  inlets  present  themselves  in  succession. 

*  A  friend  of  ours,  at  Northampton,  who  is  a  most  zealous  planter,  related  to 
U3  a  diverting  expedient  to  which  he  was  obliged  to  resort,  in  order  to  ensure 
irregular  groups.  Busily  engaged  in  arranging  plantations  of  young  trees  on 
his  lawn,  he  was  hastily  obliged  to  leave  home,  and  intrast  the  planting  of  the 
groups  to  some  common  garden  laborers,  whose  ideas  he  could  not  raise  to  a 
point  sufficiently  high  to  appreciate  any  beauty  in  plantations,  unless  made  in 
regulai  forms  and  straight  lines.  "  Being  well  aware,"  says  our  friend,  "  that 
if  left  to  themselves  I  should  find  all  my  trees,  on  my  return,  in  hollow  squares 
or  circular  clumps,  I  hastily  threw  up  a  peck  of  potatoes  into  the  air,  one  by 
»ne,  and  directed  my  workmen  to  plant  a  tree  where  every  potatoe  fell! 
Tlius,  if  I  did  not  attain  the  maximum  of  beauty  in  grouping,  I  at  least  had 
something  not  so  offensive  as  geometrical  figures." 


ON    WOOD    AND    PLANTATIONS.  97 

But  clumps,  like  compact  bodies  of  soldiers,  resist  attacks 
from  all  quarters ;  examine  them  in  every  point  of  view ; 
walk  round  and  round  them  ;  no  opening,  no  vacancy,  no 
stragglers ;  but  in  the  true  military  character,  Us  sont  face 
•partout  !"* 

The  chief  care,  then,  which  is  necessary  in  the  forma- 
tion of  groups,  is,  not  to  place  them  in  any  regular  or 
artificial  manner, — as  one  at  each  corner  of  a  triangle, 
square,  octagon,  or  other  many-sided  figure  ;  but  so  to 
dispose  them,  as  that  the  whole  may  exhibit  the  variety, 
connexion,  and  intricacy  seen  in  nature.  "  The  greatest 
beauty  of  a  group  of  trees,"  says  Loudon,  "  as  far  as 
respects  their  stems,  is  in  the  varied  direction  these  take 
as  they  grow  into  trees  ;  but  as  that  is,  for  all  practical 
purposes,  beyond  the  influence  of  art,  all  we  can  do,  is  to 
vary  as  much  as  possible  the  ground  plan  of  groups,  or 
the  relative  positions  which  the  stems  have  to  each  other 
where  they  spring  from  the  earth.  This  is  considerable, 
even  where  a  very  few'  trees  are  used,  of  which  any 
person  may  convince  himself  by  placing  a  few  dots  on 
paper.  Thus  two  trees  (fig.  18),  or  a  tree  and  shrub, 
which  is  the  smallest  group  (a),  may  be  placed  in  three 
different  positions  with  reference  to  a  spectator  in  a  fixed 
point ;  if  he  moves  round  them,  they  will  first  vary  in  form 
separately,  and  next  unite  in  one  or  two  groups,  according 
to  the  position  of  the  spectator.     In  like  manner,  three 

*  Those  who  peruse  Price's  "  Essay  on  the  Picturesque,"  cannot  fail  to  bt 
entertained  with  the  vigor  with  which  he  advocates  the  picturesque,  and 
attacks  the  clumping  method  of  laying  out  grounds,  so  much  practised  in  Eng- 
land on  the  first  introduction  of  the  modem  style.  Brown  was  the  grea' 
practitioner  at  that  time,  and  his  favorite  mode  seems  to  have  been  to  covei 
the  whole  surface  of  the  grounds  with  an  unmeaning  assemblage  of  round 
bunchy  clumps. 

7 


98  LANOSCAl'K    GARUKNING. 

trees  may  be  placed  in  four  different  positions  ;  four  trees 
may  be  placed  in  eight  different  positions  (&) ;  five  trees 
may  be  grouped  in  ten  different  ways,  as  to  ground  plan ; 
SIX  may  be  placed  in  twelve  different  ways  (c),  and  so  on." 
Encyclopcedia  of  Gard) 


"•  *  \*  »*  «■■■ 


C 

«L      is 


[Fig.  18.    Grouping  of  Trees.] 


In  the  composition  of  larger  masses,  similar  rules  must 
be  observed  as  in  the  smaller  groups,  in  order  to  prevent 
them  from  growing  up  in  heavy,  clumpish  forms.  The 
outline  must  be  flowing,  here  projecting  out  into  the  grass, 
there  receding  back  into  the  plantation,  in  order  to  take 
off  all  appearance  of  stiffness  and  regularity.  Trees  of 
medium  and  smaller  size  should  be  so  interspersed  with 
those  of  larger  growth,  as  to  break  up  all  formal  sweeps  in 
the  line  produced  by  the  tops  of  their  summits,  and  oc- 


ON    WOOD    AND    PLANTATIONS. 


99 


casionally,  low  trees  should  be  planted  on  the  outer  edge 
of  the  mass,  to  connect  it  with  the  humble  verdure  of  the 
surrounding  sward. 

In  many  parts  of  the  union,  where  new'  residences  are 
being  formed,  or  where  old  ones  are  to  be  improved,  the 
grounds  will  often  be  found,  partially,  or  to  a  considerable 
extent,  clothed  \vith  belts  or  masses  of  wood,  either  pre- 
viously planted,  or  preserved  from  the  woodman's  axe. 
How  easily  we  may  turn  these  to  advantage  in  the  natural 
style  of  Landscape  Gardening  ;  and  by  judicious  trimming 
when  too  thick,  or  additions  when  too  much  scattered, 
elicit  often  the  happiest  effects,  in  a  magical  manner  !  In 
the  accompanying  sketch  (fig.  19),  the  reader  will  re- 
cognise a  portrait  of  a  hundred  familiar  examples,  existing 
with  us,  of  the  places  of  persons  of  considerable  means  and 
intelligence,  where  the  house  is  not  less  meaajre  than  the 


[Fig.  19.    View  of  a  Country  Residence,  as  frequently  seen.] 

Stiff  approach  leading  to  it,  bordered  with  a  formal  oelt  of 
trees.  The  succeeding  sketch  (fig.  20)  exhibits  this  place 
as  improved  agreeably  to  the  principles  of  modern  Land- 
scape Gardening,  not  only  in  the  plantations,  but  in  the. 
house, — which  appears  tastefully  altered  from  a  plain  un- 
meaning parallelogram,  to  a  simple,  old  English  cottage, — 
and  in  the  more  graceful  approach.      Effects  like    these 


100 


LANDSCAPK    GAKDENING. 


are  within  the  reach  of  very  moderate  means,  and  are 
peculiarly  worth  attention  in  this  country,  where  so  much 
has  already  been  partially,  and  often  badly  executed. 


Where  there  are  large  masses  of  wood  to  regulate  and 
arrange,  much  skill,  taste,  and  judgment,  are  requisite,  to 
enable  the  proprietors  to  preserve  only  what  is  really 
beautiful  and  picturesque,  and  to  remove  all  that  is  super- 
fluous. Most  of  our  native  woods,  too,  have  grown  so 
closely,  and  the  trees  are  consequently  so  much  drawn  up, 
that  should  the  improver  thin  out  any  portion,  at  once,  to 
single  trees,  he  will  be  greatly  disappointed  if  he  expects 
them  to  stand  long  ;  for  the  first  severe  autumnal  gale 
will  almost  certainly  prostrate  them.  The  only  method, 
therefore,  is  to  allow  them  to  remain  in  groups  of  con- 
siderable size  at  first,  and  to  thin  them  out  as  is  finally 
desired,  when  they  have  made  stronger  roots  and  become 
nice  inured  to  the  influence  of  the  sun  and  air.* 

But  to  return  to  grouping ;  what  we  have  already  en- 
deavored to  render  familiar  to  the  reader,  may  be  called 

•  When,  in  thiuning  woods  in  this  manner,  those  left  standing  have  a  mea- 
gre appearance,  a  luxuriant  growth  may  be  promoted  by  the  application  of 
manure  plentifully  dug  in  about  the  roots.  This  will  also,  by  causing  an  abun- 
dant growth  of  new  roots,  strengthen  the  trees  in  their  position. 


ON    WOOD    AND    PLANTATIONS.  lOl 

grouping  in  its  simple  meaning — -for  general  effect,  and 
with  an  eye  only  to  the  natural  beauty  of  pleasing  forms 
Let  us  now  explain,  as  concisely  as  we  may,  the  mode  of 
grouping  in  the  two  schools  of  Landscape  Gardening  here- 
tofore defined,  that  is  to  say,  grouping  and  planting  for 
Beautiful  effect,  and  for  Picturesque  effect ;  as  we  wish  it 
understood  that  these  two  different  expressions,  in  artificial 
landscape,  are  always  to  a  certain  extent  under  our  control. 

Planting  and  Grouping  to  produce  the  Beautiful. 
The  elementary  features  of  this  expression  our  readers 
will  remember  to  be  fulness  and  softness  of  outline,  and 
perfectly  luxuriant  development.  To  insure  these  in  plan- 
tations, we  must  commence  by  choosing  mainly  trees  of 
graceful  habit  and  flowing  outlines ;  and  of  this  class  of 
trees,  hereafter  more  fully  illustrated,  the  American  elm 
and  the  maple  may  be  taken  as  the  type.  Next,  in  dis- 
posing them,  they  must  usually  be  planted  rather  distant 
in  the  groups,  and  often  singly.  We  do  not  mean  by  this, 
that  close  groups  may  not  occasionally  be  formed,  but  there 
should  be  a  predominance  of  trees  grouped  at  such  a  dis- 
tance from  each  other,  as  to  allow  a  full  development  of 
the  branches  on  every  side.  Or,  when  a  close  group  is 
planted,  the  trees  composing  it  should  be  usually  of  the 
same  or  a  similar  kind,  in  order  that  they  may  grow  up 
togethei  and  form  one  finely  rounded  head.  Rich  creepers 
and  blossoming  vines,  that  grow  in  fine  luxuriant  wreaths 
and  masses,  are  fit  accompaniments  to  occasional  groups 
in  this  manner.  Fig.  21  represents  a  plan  of  trees  grouped 
along  a  road  or  walk,  so  as  to  develope  the  Beautiful. 

It  is  proper  that  we  should  here  remark,  that  a  distinct 
species  of  after  treatment  is  required  for  the  two  modes. 
Trees,  o   groups,  where  the  Beautiful  is  aimed  at,  should  be 


102 


LANDSCAPK    GARUEMNG. 


[Fig.  21.    Grouping  to  produce  the  Beautiful.J 


pruned  with  great  care,  and  indeed  scarcely  at  all,  except 
to  remedy  disease,  or  to  correct  a  bad  form.  Above  all, 
the  full  luxuriance  and  development  of  the  tree  sliould  be 
encouraged  by  good  soil,  and  repeated  manurings  when 
necessary  ;  and  that  most  expressively  elegant  fall  and 
droop  of  the  branches,  which  so  completely  denotes  the 
Beautiful  in  trees,  should  never  be  warred  against  by  any 
trimming  of  the  lower  branches,  which  must  also  be  care- 
fully preserved  against  cattle,  whose  browsing  line  would 
soon  efface  this  most  beautiful  disposition  in  some  of  our 
fine  lawn  trees.  Clean,  smooth  stems,  fresh  and  tender 
bark,  and  a  softly  rounded  pyramidal  or  drooping  head, 
are  the  characteristics  of  a  Beautiful  tree.  We  need  not 
add  that  gently  sloping  ground,  or  surfaces  rolling  in  easy 
undulations,  should  accompany  such  plantations. 

Planting  and  Grouping  to  produce  the  PicTUREsauE. 
All  trees  are  admissible  in  a  picturesque  place,  but  a  pre- 
dominance must  be  used  by  the  planter  of  what  are  truly 
called  picturesque  trees,  of  which  the  larch  and  fir  tribe, 


ON    WOOD    AND    PLANTATIONS. 


103 


and  some  species  of  oak,  may  be  taken  as  examples.     In 
Picluresque  plantations  everything  depends  on   intricact, 


[Fig.  22.    Grouping  to  produce  the  Picturesque.] 


and  irregularity,  and  grouping,  therefore,  must  often  be 
done  in  the  most  irregular  manner — rarely,  if  ever,  with 
single  specimens,  as  every  object  should  seem  to  connect 
itself  with  something  else ;  but  most  frequently  there  should 
be  irregular  groups,  occasionally  running  into  thickets,  and 
always  more  or  less  touching  each  other  ;  trusting  to  after 
time  for  any  thinning,  should  it  be  necessary.  Fig.  22 
may,  as  compared  with  Fig.  21,  give  an  idea  of  picturesque 
grouping. 

There  should  be  more  of  the  wildness  of  the  finest  and 
most  forcible  portions  of  natural  woods  or  forests,  in  the 
disposition  of  the  trees ;  sometimes  planting  them  closely, 
even  two  or  three  in  the  same  hole,  at  others  more  loose 
and  scattered.  These  will  grow  up  into  wilder  and  more 
striking  forms,  the  barks  will  be  deeply  furrowed  and  rougli, 
the  limbs  twisted  and  irregular,  and  the  forms  and  outlines 
distinctly  varied.  They  should  often  be  intermixed  with 
smaller  undergrowth  of  a  similar  character,  as  the  hazel, 
nawthorn,  etc.,  and  formed  into  such  picturesque  and  strik 


104  J-ANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

ing  groups,  as  painters  love  to  study  and  introduce  into 
their  pictures.  Sturdy  and  bright  vines,  or  such  as  are 
themselves  picturesque  in  their  festoons  and  hangings, 
should  be  allowed  to  clamber  over  occasional  trees  in  a 
negligent  manner  ;  and  the  surface  and  grass,  in  parts  of 
the  scene  not  immediately  in  the  neighborhood  of  the 
mansion,  may  be  kept  short  by  the  cropping  of  animals,  or 
allowed  to  grow  in  a  more  careless  and  loose  state,  like  that 
of  tangled  dells  and  natural  woods. 

There  will  be  the  same  open  glades  in  picturesque  as  in 
beautiful  plantations ;  but  these  openings,  in  the  former, 
will  be  bounded  by  groups  and  thickets  of  every  form,  and 
of  different  degrees  of  intricacy,  while  in  the  latter  the 
eye  will  repose  on  softly  rounded  masses  of  foliage,  or  sin- 
gle open  groups  of  trees,  with  finely  balanced  and  graceful 
heads  and  branches. 

In  order  to  know  how  a  plantation  in  the  Picturesque 
mode  should  be  treated,  after  it  is  established,  we  should 
reflect  a  moment  on  what  constitutes  picturesqueness  in 
any  tree.  This  will  be  found  to  consist  either  in  a  certain 
natural  roughness  of  bark,  or  wildness  of  form  and  outline, 
or  in  some  accidental  curve  of  a  branch  of  striking  manner 
of  growth,  or  perhaps  of  both  these  conjoined.  A  broken 
or  crooked  limb,  a  leaning  trunk,  or  several  stems  springing 
from  the  same  base,  are  frequently  peculiarities  that  at  once 
stamp  a  tree  as  picturesque.  Hence,  it  is  easy  to  see  that 
the  excessive  care  of  the  cultivator  of  trees  in  the  graceful 
school  to  obtain  the  smoothest  trunks,  and  the  most  sweep- 
ing, perfect,  and  luxuriant  heads  of  foliage,  is  quite  the 
opposite  of  what  is  the  picturesque  arboriculturist's  ambi- 
tion. He  desires  to  encourage  a  certain  wildness  of  growth, 
and  allows  his  trees  to  spring  up  occasionally  in  thickets 


ON    \\OOD    AND    PLANTATIONS.  105 

to  assist  this  effect ;  he  dehghts  in  occasional  irregularity 
of  stem  and  outline,  and  he  therefore  suffers  his  trees  here 
and  there  to  crowd  each  other ;  he  admires  a  twisted  limb 
or  a  moss  covered  branch,  and  in  pruning  he  therefore  is 
careful  to  leave  precisely  what  it  would  be  the  aim  of  the 
other  to  remove  ;  and  his  pruning,  where  it  is  at  all  neces- 
sary, is  directed  rather  towards  increasing  the  naturally 
striking  and  peculiar  habit  of  the  picturesque  tree,  than 
assisting  it  in  developing  a  form  of  unusual  refinement  and 
symmetry.  From  these  remarks  we  think  the  amateur 
will  easily  divine,  that  planting,  grouping,  and  culture  to 
produce  the  Beautiful,  require  a  much  less  artistic  eye 
(though  much  more  care  and  attention)  than  performing 
the  same  operations  to  elicit  the  Picturesque.  The  charm 
of  a  refined  and  polished  landscape  garden,  as  we  usually 
see  it  in  the  Beautiful  grounds  with  all  the  richness  and 
beauty  developed  by  high  culture,  arises  from  our  admira- 
tion of  the  highest  perfection,  the  greatest  beauty  of  form, 
to  which  every  object  can  be  brought  ;  and,  in  trees,  a 
judicious  selection,  with  high  cultivation,  will  always  pro- 
duce this  effect. 

But  in  the  Picturesque  landscape  garden  there  is  visible 
a  piquancy  of  effect,  certain  bold  and  striking  growths 
and  combinations,  which  we  feel  at  once,  if  we  know  them 
to  be  the  result  of  art,  to  be  the  production  of  a  pecuhar 
species  of  attention — not  merely  good,  or  even  refined 
ornamental  gardening.  In  short,  no  one  can  be  a  pictu- 
resque improver  (if  he  has  to  begin  with  young  plantations) 
who  is  not  himself  something  of  an  artist — who  has  not 
studied  nature  with  an  artistical  eye — and  who  is  not 
capable  of  imitating,  eliciting,  or  heightening,  in  his  plan- 
tations or  other  portions  of  his  residence,  the  picturesque 


106  LANDSCAPE  GAEDENING. 

in  its  many  variations.  And  we  may  add  here,  that  effi- 
cient and  charming  as  is  the  assistance  which  all  orna« 
mental  planters  will  derive  from  the  study  of  the  best 
landscape  engravings  and  pictures  of  distinguished  artists, 
they  are  indispensably  necessary  to  the  picturesque  im 
prover.  In  these  he  will  often  find  embodied  the  choicest 
and  most  captivating  studies  from  picturesque  nature ;  and 
will  see  at  a  glance  the  effect  of  certain  combinations  of 
ti'ees,  which  he  might  otherwise  puzzle  himself  a  dozen 
years  to  know  how  to  produce 

After  all,  as  the  picturesque  improver  here  will  most 
generally  be  found  to  be  one  who  chooses  a  comparatively 
wild  and  wooded  place,  we  may  safely  say  that,  if  he  has 
the  true  feeling  for  his  work,  he  will  always  find  it  vastly 
easier  than  those  who  strive  after  the  Beautiful;  as  the 
majority  of  the  latter  may  be  said  to  begin  nearly  anew — 
choosing  places  not  for  wildness  aiid  intricacy  of  wood,  but 
for  openness  and  the  smiling,  sunny,  undulating  plain, 
where  they  must  of  course  to  a  good  extent  plant  anew. 

After  becoming  well  acquainted  with  grouping,  we 
should  bring  ourselves  to  regard  those  principles  which 
govern  our  improvements  as  a  whole.  We  therefore  must 
call  the  attention  of  the  improver  to  the  two  following 
principles,  which  are  to  be  constantly  in  view  :  the  pro- 
duction of  a  whole,  and  the  proper  connexion  of  the  parts. 

Any  person  who  will  take  the  trouble  to  reflect  for  a  mo- 
ment on  the  great  diversity  of  surface,  change  of  position, 
aspects,  views,  etc.,  in  different  country  residences,  will  at 
once  perceive  how  difficult,  or,  indeed,  how  impossible  it 
is,  to  lay  down  any  fixed  or  exact  rules  for  arranging  plan- 
tations in  the  modern  style.  What  would  be  precisely 
adapted  to  a  hilly  rolling  park,  would  often  be  found  entire- 


ON    WOOD    ANU    PLAXTATlO.VS.  101 

'.y  unfit  for  adoption  in  a  smooth,  level  surface,  and  the 
contrary.  Indeed,  the  chief  beauty  of  the  modern  style  is 
the  variety  produced  by  following  a  few  leading  principles, 
and  applying  them  to  different  and  varied  localities  ;  un 
like  the  geometric  style,  which  proceeded  to  level,  and 
arrange,  and  erect  its  avenues  and  squares,  alike  in  every 
situation,  with  all  the  precision  and  certainty  of  mathe- 
matical demonstration. 

In  all  grounds  to  be  laid  out,  however,  which  are  of  a 
lawn  or  park-like  extent,  and  call  for  the  exercise  of  judg- 
ment and  taste,  the  mansion  or  dwelling-house,  being  itself 
the  chief  or  leading  object  in  the  scene,  should  form,  as  it 
were,  the  central  point,  to  which  it  should  be  the  object  of 
the  planter  to  give  importance.  In  order  to  do  this  effec-. 
tually,  the  large  masses  or  groups  of  wood  should  cluster 
round,  or  form  the  back-ground  to  the  main  edifice ;  and 
v/here  the  offices  or  out-buildings  approach  the  same 
neighborhood,  they  also  should  be  embraced.  We  do  not 
mean  by  this  to  convey  the  idea,  that  a  thick  wood  should 
be  planted  around  and  in  the  close  neighborhood  of  the 
mansion  or  villa,  so  as  to  impede  the  free  circulation  of 
air ;  but  its  appearance  and  advantages  may  be  easily 
produced  by  a  comparatively  loose  plantation  of  groups 
well  connected  by  intermediate  trees,  so  as  to  give  all  the 
effect  of  a  large  mass.  The  front,  and  at  least  that  side 
nearest  the  approach  road,  will  be  left  open,  or  nearly  so  : 
while  the  plantations  on  the  hack-ground  will  give  dignity 
and  importance  to  the  house,  and  at  the  same  time  effectu- 
ally screen  the  approach  to  the  farm  buildings,  and  other 
objects  which  require  to  be  kept  out  of  view ;  and  here 
both  for  the  purposes  of  shelter  and  richness  of  effect,  a 
good  proportion  of  evergreens  should  be  introduced. 


108  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

From  this  principal  mass,  the  plantations  must  break 
off  in  groups  of  greater  or  less  size,  corresponding  to  the 
extent  covered  by  it ;  if  large,  they  will  diverge  into 
masses  of  considerable  magnitude,  if  of  moderate  size,  in 
groups  made  up  of  a  number  of  trees.  In  the  lawn  front 
of  the  house,  appropriate  places  will  be  found  for  a  number 
of  the  most  elegant  single  trees,  or  small  groups  of  trees, 
remarkable  for  the  beauty  of  their  forms,  foliage,  or  blos- 
soms. Care  must  be  taken,  however,  in  disposing  these, 
as  well  as  many  of  the  groups,  that  they  are  not  placed  so 
as,  at  some  future  time,  to  interrupt  or  disturb  the  finest 
points  of  prospect. 

In  more  distant  parts  of  the  plantations  will  also  appear 
masses  of  considerable  extent,  perhaps  upon  the  boundary 
line,  perhaps  in  particular  situations  on  the  sides,  or  in  the 
interior  of  the  whole ;  and  the  various  groups  which  are 
distributed  between  should  be  so  managed  as,  though  in 
most  cases  distinct,  yet  to  appear  to  be  the  connecting 
links  which  unite  these  distant  shadows  in  the  composition, 
with  the  larger  masses  near  the  house.  Sometimes  seve- 
ral small  groups  will  be  almost  joined  together  ;  at  others 
the  effect  may  be  kept  up  by  a  small  group,  aided  by  a  few 
neighboring  single  trees.  This,  for  a  park-like  place. 
Where  the  place  is  small,  a  pleasure-g%^iound  character  is 
all  that  can  be  obtained.  But  by  employing  chiefly 
shrubs,  and  only  a  few  trees,  very  similar  and  highly 
beautiful  effects  may  be  attained. 

The  grand  object  in  all  this  should  be  to  open  to  the 
eye,  from  the  windows  or  front  of  the  house,  a  wide 
surface,  partially  broken  up  and  divided  by  groups  and 
masses  of  trees  into  a  number  of  pleasing  lawns  or 
openings,  differing  in  size  and  appearance,  and  producing 


ON    WOOD    AND    PLANTATIONS.  109 

a  charming  variety  in  the  scene,  either  when  seen  from  a 
given  point  or  when  examined  in  detail.  It  must  not  be 
forgotten  that,  as  a  general  rule,  the  grass  or  surface  of 
the  lawn  answers  as  the  principal  light,  and  the  woods  or 
plantations  as  the  shadows,  in  the  same  manner  in  nature 
as  in  painting ;  and  that  these  should  be  so  managed  as  to 
lead  the  eye  to  the  mansion  as  the  most  important  object 
when  seen  from  without,  or  correspond  to  it  in  grandeur 
and  magnitude,  when  looked  upon  from  within  the  house. 
If  the  surface  is  too  much  crowded  with  groups  of  foliage, 
breadth  of  light  will  be  found  wanting ;  if  left  too  bare, 
there  will  be  felt,  on  the  other  hand,  an  absence  of  the 
noble  effect  of  deep  and  broad  shadows. 

One  of  the  loveliest  charms  of  a  fine  park  is,  undoubted- 
ly, variation  or  undulation  of  surface.  Everything, 
accordingly,  which  tends  to  preserve  and  strengthen  this 
pleasing  character,  should  be  kept  constantlv  in  view. 
Where,  therefore,  there  are  no  obvious  objections  to  such 
a  course,  the  eminences,  gentle  swells,  or  hills,  should  be 
planted,  in  preference  to  the  hollows  or  depressions.  By 
planting  the  elevated  portions  of  the  grounds,  their 
apparent  height  is  increased  ;  but  by  planting  the  hollows, 
all  distinction  is  lessened  and  broken  up.  Indeed,  where 
there  is  but  a  trifling  and  scarcely  perceptible  undulation, 
the  importance  of  the  swells  of  surface  already  existing  is 
surprisingly  increased,  when  this  course  of  planting  is 
adopted  ;  and  the  whole,  to  the  eye,  appears  finely 
varied. 

Where  the  grounds  of  the  residence  to  be  planted  are 
level,  or  nearly  so,  and  it  is  desirable  to  confine  the  view, 
on  any  or  all  sides,  to  the  lawn  or  park  itself,  the  boundary 
groups  and  masses  must  be  so  connected  together  as,  from 


110  LANDSCAPE    GARDE.VING. 

the  most  striking  part  or  parts  of  the  prospect  (near  the 
house  for  example)  to  answer  this  end.  This  should  be 
done,  not  by  planting  a  continuous,  uniformly  thick  belt  of 
trees  round  the  outside  of  the  whole  ;  but  by  so  arranging 
the  various  outer  groups  and  thickets,  that  when  seen  from 
the  given  points  they  shall  appear  connected  in  one  whole. 
In  this  way,  there  will  be  an  agreeable  variation  in  the 
margin,  made  by  the  vario'-  s,  recesses,  and  detached 

projections,  which  couia  not  be  so  well  effected  if  the 
whole  were  one  uniformly  unbroken  strip  of  wood. 

But  where  the  house  is  so  elevated  as  to  command  a 
more  extensive  view  than  is  comprised  in  the  demesne 
itself,  another  course  should  be  adopted.  The  grounds 
planted  must  be  made  to  connect  themselves  with  the 
surrounding  scenery,  so  as  not  to  produce  any  violent 
contrast  to  the  eye,  when  compared  with  the  adjoining 
country.  If  then,  as  is  most  frequently  the  case,  the  lawn 
or  pleasure-ground  join,  on  either  side  or  sides,  cultivated 
farm  lands,  the  proper  connexion  may  be  kept  up  by 
advancing  a  few  groups  or  even  scattered  trees  into  the 
neighboring  fields.  In  the  middle  states  there  are  but  few 
cultivated  fields,  even  in  ordinary  farms,  where  there  is 
not  to  be  seen,  here  and  there,  a  handsome  cluster  of 
saplings  or  a  few  full  grown  trees  ;  or  if  not  these,  at 
least  some  tall  growing  bushes  along  the  fences,  all  of 
which,  by  a  little  exercise  of  this  leading  principle  of 
connexion,  can,  by  the  planter  of  taste,  be  made  to  appear 
with  few  or  trifling  additions,  to  divaricate  from,  and 
ramble  out  of  the  park  itself  Where  the  park  joins 
natural  woods,  connexion  is  still  easier,  and  where  it 
bounds  upon  one  of  our  noble  rivers,  lakes,  or  other  large 
sheets  of  water,  of  course  connexion  is  not  expected  ;  foi 


ON    WOOD    AXD    PLANTATIONS.  Ill 

sudden  contrast  and  transition  is  there  both  natural  and 
beautiful. 

In  all  cases  good  taste  will  suggest  that  the  more  polished 
parts  of  the  lawns  and  grounds  should,  whatever  character 
IS  attempted,  be  those  nearest  the  house.  There  the  most 
rare  and  beautiful  sorts  of  trees  are  displayed,  and  the 
entire  plantations  agree  in  elegance  with  the  style  of  art 
evinced  in  the  mansion  itself  When  there  is  much  extent, 
however,  as  the  eye  wanders  from  the  neighborhood  of  the 
residence,  the  whole  evinces  less  polish ;  and  gradually, 
towards  the  furthest  extremities,  grows  ruder,  until  it  assi- 
milates itself  to  the  wildness  of  general  nature  around. 
This,  of  course,  applies  to  grounds  of  large  extent,  and  must 
not  be  so  much  enforced  where  the  lawn  embraced  is  but 
moderate,  and  therefore  comes  more  directly  under  tbv 
eye. 

It  will  be  remembered  that,  in  the  foregoing  section,  we 
stated  it  as  one  of  the  leading  principles  of  the  art  of  Land- 
scape Gardening,  that  in  every  instance  where  the  grounds 
of  a  country  residence  have  a  marked  natural  character, 
whether  of  beautiful  or  picturesque  expression,  the  efforts 
of  the  improver  will  be  most  successful  if  he  contributes 
by  his  art  to  aid  and  strengthen  that  expression.  This 
should  ever  be  borne  in  mind  when  we  are  commencing 
any  improvements  in  planting  that  will  affect  the  general 
expression  of  the  scene,  as  there  are  but  few  country  resi- 
dences in  the  United  States  of  any  importance  which  have 
not  naturally  some  distinct  landscape  character ;  and  the 
abors  of  the  improver  will  be  productive  of  much  greater 
satisfaction  and  more  lasting  pleasure,  when  they  aim  at 
effects  in  keeping  with  the  whole  scene,  than  if  no  regard 
be  paid  to  this  important  point.     This  will  be  felt  almost 


112  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

intuitively  by  persons  who,  perhaps,  would  themselves  be 
incapable  of  describing  the  cause  of  their  gratification,  but 
would  perceive  the  contrary  at  once ;  as  many  are  unable 
to  analyse  the  pleasure  derived  from  harmony  in  music, 
while  they  at  once  perceive  the  introduction  of  discordant 
notes. 

We  do  not  intend  that  this  principle  should  apply  so 
closely,  that  extensive  grounds  naturally  picturesque  shall 
have  nothing  of  the  softening  touches  of  more  perfect 
beauty ;  or  that  a  demesne  characterized  by  the  latter  ex- 
pression should  not  be  occasionally  enlivened  with  a  few 
"  smart  touches"  of  the  former.  This  is  often  necessary, 
indeed,  to  prevent  tame  scenery  from  degenerating  into 
insipidity,  or  picturesque  into  wildness,  too  great  to  be 
appropriate  in  a  country  residence.  Picturesque  trees 
give  new  spirit  to  groups  of  highly  beautiful  ones,  and  the 
latter  sometimes  heighten  by  contrast  the  value  of  the 
former.  All  of  which,  however,  does  not  prevent  the 
predominance  of  the  leading  features  of  either  style,  suffi- 
ciently strong  to  mark  it  as  such  ;  while,  occasionally, 
something  of  zest  or  elegance  may  be  borrowed  from  the 
opposite  character,  to  suit  the  wishes  or  gratify  the  taste 
of  the  proprietor. 

Ground  plans  of  ornamental  plantations.  To 
illustrate  partially  our  ideas  on  the  arrangement  of  plan- 
tations we  place  before  the  reader  two  or  three  examples, 
premising,  that  the  small  scale  to  which  they  are  reduced 
prevents  our  giving  to  them  any  character  beyond  that  of 
the  general  one  of  the  design.  The  first  (Fig.  23)  repre- 
sents a  portion,  say  one  third  or  one  half  of  a  piece  of 
property  selected  for  a  country  seat,  and  which  has  hitherto 
been  kept  in   tillage  as  ordinary  farm  land.     The  public 


ON    WOOD    AND    PLANTATIONS. 


113 


[Fig.  23.    Plan  of  a  common  Farm,  before  any  improvements.] 

road,  a,  is  the  boundary  on  one  side  :  dd  are  prettily  wooded 
dells  or  hollows,  which,  together  w'ith  a  few  groups  near 
the  proposed  site  of  the  house,  c,  and  a  few  scattered  single 
trees,  make  up  the  aggregate  of  the  original  woody  embel- 
lishments of  the  locality. 

In  the  next  figure  (Fig.  24)  a  ground  plan  of  the  place  is 
given,  as  it  would  appear  after  having  been  judiciously 
laid  out  and  planted,  with  several  years'  growth.  At  a,  the 
approach  road  leaves  the  public  highway  and  leads  to  the 
house  at  c :  from  whence  paths  of  smaller  size,  b,  make 
the  circuit  of  the  ornamental  portion  of  the  residence, 
taking  advantage  of  the  wooded  dells,  d,  originally  existing, 
which  offer  some  scope  for  varied  walks  concealed  from 
each  other  by  the  intervening  masses  of  thicket.     It  will 


ll'l 


LAVDSCAPE    GARDENING. 


';®li;'''l!  I'l 


[Fig.  24.    Plan  of  I'le  foregoing  grounds  as  a  Country  Seat,  after  ten  years'  improvement 


be  seen  here,  that  one  of  the  largest  masses  of  wood  forms 
a  background  to  the  house,  concealing  also  the  out-build- 
ings ;  while,  from  the  windows  of  the  mansion  itself,  the 
trees  are  so  arranged  as  to  group  in  the  most  pleasing  and 
etfective  manner  ;  at  the  same  time  broad  masses  of  turf 
meet  the  eye,  and  fine  distant  views  are  had  through  the 
vistas  in  the  lines,  ee.  In  this  manner  the  lawn  appears 
divided  into  four  distinct  lawns  or  areas  bounded  by  groups 
of  trees,  instead  of  being  dotted  over  with  an  unmeaning 
confusion  of  irregular  masses  of  foliage.  The  form  of  these 
areas  varies  also  with  every  change  of  position  in  the  spec- 
tator, as  seen  from  different  portions  of  the  grounds,  or  differ- 
ent points  in  the  walks  ;  and  they  can  be  still  further  varied 
at  ])leasurc  by  adding  more  single  trees  or  small  groups, 
which  sliould    always,  to  produce  varit,(y  of  outline,  be 


ON    WOOD    AND    PLANTATIONS. 


115 


placed  opposite  the  salient  parts  of  the  wood,  and  not  in  the 
recesses,  which  latter  they  would  appear  to  diminish  or 
clog  up.  The  stables  are  shown  at  f ;  the  barn  at  g,  and 
the  kitchen  garden  adjacent  at  h ;  the  orchard  at  i ;  and  a 
small  portion  of  the  farm  lands  at  k ;  a  back  entrance  to 
the  out-buildings  is  shown  in  the  rear  of  the  orchard.  The 
plan  has  been  given  for  a  place  of  seventy  acres,  thirty  of 
which  include  the  pleasure  grounds,  and  forty  the  adjoin- 
ing farm  lands. 

Figure.    25    is    the    plan    of    an    American    mansion 


[Fig.  25     ri:m  of  a  Mansion  Residence,  laid  out  in  the  natural  style.1 


116  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

residence  of  considerable  extent,  only  part  of  the  tarm 
lands,  /,  being  here  delineated.  In  this  residence,  as  there 
is  no  extensive  view  worth  preserving  beyond  the  bounds 
of  the  estate,  the  pleasure  grounds  are  surrounded  by  an 
irregular  and  picturesque  belt  of  wood.  A  fine  natural 
stream  or  rivulet,  which  ran  through  the  estate,  has  been 
formed  into  a  handsome  pond,  or  small  lake,/,  which  adds 
much  to  the  interest  of  the  grounds.  The  approach  road 
breaks  oflf  from  the  highway  at  the  entrance  lodge,  a, 
and  proceeds  in  easy  curves  to  the  mansion,  h ;  and  the 
groups  of  trees  on  the  side  of  this  approach  nearest  the 
house,  are  so  arranged  that  the  visitor  scarcely  obtains 
more  than  a  glimpse  of  the  latter,  until  he  arrives  at  the 
most  favorable  position  for  a  first  impression.  From  the 
windows  of  the  mansion,  at  either  end,  the  eye  ranges 
over  groups  of  flowers  and  shrubs  ;  while,  on  the  entrance 
front,  the  trees  are  arranged  so  as  to  heighten  the  natural 
expression  originally  existing  there.  On  the  other  front, 
the  broad  mass  of  light  reflected  from  the  green  turf  at  h, 
is  balanced  by  the  dark  shadows  of  the  picturesque 
plantations  which  surround  the  lake,  and  skirt  the  whole 
boundary.  At  i,  a  light,  inconspicuous  wire  fence 
separates  that  portion  of  the  ground,  g,  ornamented  with 
flowering  shrubs  and  kept  mown  by  the  scythe,  from  the 
remainder,  of  a  park-like  character,  which  is  kept  short  by 
the  cropping  of  animals.  At  c,  are  shown  the  stables, 
carriage  house,  etc.,  which,  though  near  the  approach 
road,  are  concealed  by  foliage,  though  easily  accessible  by 
a  short  curved  road,  returning  from  the  house,  so  as  not 
to  present  any  road  leading  in  the  same  direction,  to 
detract  from  the  dignity  of  the  approach  in  going  to  it. 
A  prospect  tower,  or  rustic  pavilion,  on  a  little  eminence 


ON    WOOD    AND    PLANTATIONS.  117 

overlooking  the  whole  estate,  is  shown  at  j.  The  small 
arabesque  beds  near  the  house  are  filled  with  masses  of 
choice  flowering  shrubs  and  plants  ;  the  kitchen  garden  is 
shown  at  d,  and  the  orchard  at  e. 

Suburban  villa  residences  are,  every  day,  becoming 
more  numerous  ;  and  in  laying  out  the  grounds  around 
them,  and  disposing  the  sylvan  features,  there  is  often 
more  ingenuity,  and  as  much  taste  required,  as  in  treating 
a  country  residence  of  several  hundred  acres.  In  the 
small  area  of  from  one  half  an  acre  to  ten  or  twelve  acres, 
surrounding  often  a  villa  of  the  first  class,  it  is  desirable 
to  assemble  many  of  the  same  features,  and  as  much  as 
possible  of  the  enjoyment,  which  are  to  be  found  in  a  large 
and  elegant  estate.  To  do  this,  the  space  Allotted  to 
various  purposes,  as  the  kitchen  garden,  lawn,  etc.,  must 
be  judiciously  portioned  out,  and  so  characterized  and 
divided  by  plantations,  that  the  whole  shall  appear  to  be 
much  larger  than  it  really  is,  from  the  fact  that  the 
spectator  is  never  allowed  to  see  the  whole  at  a  single 
glance ;  but  while  each  portion  is  complete  in  itself,  the 
plan  shall  present  nothing  incongruous  or  ill  assorted. 

An  excellent  illustration  of  this  species  of  residence,  is 
afforded  the  reader  in  the  accompanying  plan  (Fig.  26)  of 
the  grounds  of  Riverside  Villa.  This  pretty  villa  a1 
Burlington,  New  Jersey  (to  which  we  shah  again  refer), 
was  lately  built,  and  the  grounds,  about  six  or  eight  acres 
n  extent,  laid  out,  from  the  designs  of  John  Notman,  Esq., 
architect,  of  Philadelphia  ;  and  while  the  latter  promise  a 
large  amount  of  beauty  and  enjoyment,  scarcely  anything 
which  can  be  supposed  necessary  for  the  convenience  or 
wants  of  the  family,  is  lost  sight  of 

The  house,  a,  stands  Quite  near  the  bank  of  the  river. 


J18 


LANDSCAPE    GARDEiVIN(; 


[Fig.  20.     I'liin  of  a  Suburban  Villa  Residence.] 

while  one  front  commands  fine  water  views,  and  the  other 
looks  into  the  lawn  or  pleasure  grounds,  b.  On  one  side 
of  the  area  is  the  kitchen  garden,  c,  separated  and 
concealed  from  the  lawn  by  thick  groups  of  evergreen 
and  deciduous  trees.  At  e,  is  a  picturesque  oixhard,  in 
which  the  fruit  trees  are  plante4  in  groups  instead  of 
straight  lines,  for  the  sake  of  effect.  Directly  under  the 
wmdows  of  the  drawing-room  is  the  flower  garden,/;  and 


ON    WOOD     \ND    PLANTATIONS.  119 

at  g,  is  a  seat.  The  walk  around  the  lawn  is  also  a 
carriage  road,  affording  entrance  and  egress  from  the  rear 
of  the  grounds,  for  garden  purposes,  as  well  as  from  the 
front  of  the  house.  At  h,  is  situated  the  ice-house ;  d, 
hot-beds  ;  j,  bleaching  green  ;  i,  gardener's  house,  etc.  In 
the  rear  of  the  latter  are  the  stables,  which  are  not  shown 
on  the  plan. 

The  embellished  farm  {^ferme  ornee)  is  a  pretty  mode 
of  combining  something  of  the  beauty  of  the  landscape 
garden  with  the  utility  of  the  farm,  and  we  hope  to  see 
small  country  seats  of  this  kind  become  more  general.  As 
regards  profit  in  farming,  of  course,  all  modes  of  arranging 
or  distributing  land  are  inferior  to  simple  square  fields ; 
on  account  of  the  greater  facility  of  working  the  land  in 
rectangular  plots.  But  we  suppose  the  owner  of  the  small 
ornamental  farm  to  be  one  with  whom  profit  is  not  the 
first  and  only  consideration,  but  who  desires  to  unite 
with  it  something  to  gratify  his  taste,  and  to  give  a  higher 
charm  to  his  rural  occupations.  In  Fig.  27,  is  shown  part 
of  an  embellished  farm,  treated  in  the  picturesque  style 
throughout.  The  various  trees,  under  grass  or  tillage,  are 
divided  and  bounded  by  winding  roads,  a,  bordered  by 
hedges  of  buckthorn,  cedar,  and  hawthorn,  instead  of 
wooden  fences ;  the  roads  being  wide  enough  to  afford 
a  pleasant  drive  or  walk,  so  as  to  allow  the  owner  or 
visitor  to  enjoy  at  the  same  time  an  agreeable  circuit,  and 
a  glance  at  all  the  various  crops  and  modes  of  culture. 
In  the  plan  before  us,  the  approach  from  the  public  road 
is  at  h ;  the  dwelling  at  c ;  the  barns  and  farna-buil dings 
at  d;  the  kitchen  garden  at  e;  and  the  orchard  at  /. 
About  the  house  are  distributed  some  groups  of  trees,  and 
here  the  fields,  g,  are  kept  in  grass,  and  are  either  mown 


20 


LANDSCAPE    GARDENING. 


N     N    S    S    S    N  \N 
X    N    S    \    V    s    \  ■ 
.    N    N    S    S    V    N    V   ^ 
S    \    S    N    N    ^0-00 


[Fig.  27.     View  of  a  Picturesque  farm  {ferme  ornie).] 

or  pastured.  The  fields  in  crops  are  designated  h,  on  the 
plan  ;  and  a  few  picturesque  groups  of  trees  are  planted, 
or  allowed  to  remain,  in  these,  to  keep  up  the  general 
character  of  the  place.  A  low  dell,  or  rocky  thicket,  is 
situated  at  i,.  Exceedingly  interesting  and  agreeable 
effects  may  be  produced,  at  little  cost,  in  a  picturesque 
farm  of  this  kind.  The  hedges  may  be  of  a  great  variety 
of  suitable  shrubs,  and,  in  addition  to  those  that  we  have 
named,  we  would  introduce  others  of  the  sweet  brier,  the 
Michigan  or  prairie  rose  (admirably  adapted  for  the 
purpose),  the  flowering  crab,  and  the  like — beautiful  and 
fragrant  in  their  growth  and  blossoms.  These  hedges  we 
would  cause  to  grow  thick,  rather  by  interlacing  the 
branches,  than  by  constant  shearing  or  trimming,  which 
would  give  them  a  less  formal,  and  a  more  free  and 
natural  air.     The  'vindin!::;  lanes   traversing  the  farm  need 


ON    WOOD    AND    PLANTATIONS.  121 

only  be  gravelled  near  the  house,  in  other  portions  being 
left  in  grass,  which  will  need  little  care,  as  it  will  generally 
be  kept  short  enough  by  the  passing  of  men  and  vehicles 
over  it. 

A  picturesque  or  ornamental  farm  like  this  would  be  an 
agreeable  residence  for  a  gentleman  retiring  into  the  coun- 
try on  a  small  farm,  desirous  of  experimenting  for  himself 
with  all  the  new  modes  of  culture.  The  small  and  irregu- 
lar fields  would,  to  him,  be  rather  an  advantage,  and  there 
would  be  an  air  of  novelty  and  interest  about  the  whole 
residence.  Such  an  arrangement  as  this  would  also  be 
suitable  for  a  fruit  farm  near  one  of  our  large  towns,  the 
fields  being  occupied  by  orchards,  vines,  grass,  and  grain. 
The  house  and  all  the  buildings  should  be  of  a  simple, 
though  picturesque  and  accordant  character. 

The  cottage  ornee  may  have  more  or  less  ground  attached 
to  it.  It  is  the  ambition  of  some  to  have  a  great  house  and 
little  land,  and  of  others  (among  whom  we  remember  the 
poet  Cowley)  to  have  a  little  house  and  a  large  garden. 
The  latter  would  seem  to  be  the  more  natural  taste.  When 
the  grounds  of  a  cottage  are  large,  they  will  be  treated  by 
the  landscape  gardener  nearly  like  those  of  a  villa  residence ; 
when  they  are  smaller  a  more  quiet  and  simple  character 
must  be  aimed  at.  But  even  where  they  consist  of  only 
u  rood  or  two,  something  tasteful  and  pretty  may  be  ar- 
ranged.* In  Fig.  28,  is  shown  a  small  piece  of  ground  on 
one  side  of  a  cottage,  in  which  a  picturesque  character  is 
attempted  to  be  maintained.  The  plantations  here  are 
made  mostly  with  shrubs  instead  of  trees,  the  latter  being 


*  For  a  variety  of  modes  of  treating  the  grounds  of  small  places,  pee  oui 
Designs  for  Cottage  Residences. 


122 


LANDSCAPE    GAKDENING. 


only  sparingly  introduced  for  the  want  of  room.  In  the 
disposition  of  these  shrubs,  however,  the  same  attention  to 
picturesque  effect  is  paid  as  we  have  already  pointed  out 
in  our  remarks  on  grouping ;  and  by  connecting  the  thickets 
and  groups  here  and  there,  so  as  to  conceal  one  walk  from 
the  other,  a  surprising  variety  and  effect  will  frequently  be 
produced  in  an  exceedingly  limited  spot. 

The     same    limited    grounds 

might  be  planted  so  as  to  produce 

the  Beautiful ;  choosing,  in  this 

case,     shrubs     of    symmetrical 

growth  and  fine  forms,  planting 

I  1  and   grouping   them    somewhat 

«  s;^  singly,  and  allowing  every  speci- 

^^'  men  to  attain  its  fullest  luxuri- 

■^^  ance  of  development. 

In  making  these  arrangements, 
[Fig  28  Grnun.i,  ,>i  i  coti  i.e »; ;  e,  ]  evcn  in  the  Small  area  of  a  fourth 
of  an  acre,  we  should  study  the  same  principles  and  en- 
deavor to  produce  the  same  harmony  of  effects,  as  if  we 
were  improving  a  mansion  residence  o''  the  first  class.  The 
extent  of  the  operations,  and  the  sums  lavished,  are  not  by 
any  means  necessarily  connected  with  successful  and 
pleasing  results.  The  man  of  correct  taste  will,  by  the  aid 
of  very  limited  means  and  upon  a  small  surface,  be  able 
to  afford  the  mind  more  true  pleasure,  than  the  improver 
who  lavishes  thousands  without  it,  creating  no  other  emo- 
tion than  surprise  or  pity  at  the  useless  expenditure  in- 
curred ;  and  the  Abbe  Delille  says  nothing  more  true  than 
that, 

"  Ce  noble  emploi  demand  un  artiste  qui  pense, 
Prodigue  de  genie,  ot  non  pas  de  depense." 


ON    WOOD    AND    PLANTATIONS.  123 

From  the  inspection  of  plans  like  these,  the  tyro  may 
earn  something  of  the  manner  of  arranging  plantations, 
and  of  the  general  effect  of  the  natural  style  in  particular 
cases  and  situations.  But  the  knowledge  they  afford  is  so 
far  below  that  obtained  by  an  inspection  of  the  effects  in 
reality,  that  the  latter  should  in  all  cases  be  preferred 
where  it  is  practicable.  In  this  style,  unlike  the  ancient, 
it  is  almost  impossible  that  the  same  plan  should  exactly 
suit  any  other  situation  than  that  for  which  it  was  intended, 
for  its  great  excellence  lies  in  the  endless  variety  produced 
by  its  application  to  different  sites,  situations,  and  surfaces  ; 
developing  the  latent  capacities  of  one  place  and  heighten- 
mg  the  charms  of  another. 

But  the  leading  principles  as  regards  the  formation  of 
plantations,  which  we  have  here  endeavored  briefly  to 
elucidate,  are  the  same  in  all  cases.  After  becoming 
familiar  with  these,  should  the  amateur  landscape  gardener 
be  at  a  loss  how  to  proceed,  he  can  hardly  do  better,  as  we 
have  before  suggested,  than  to  study  and  recur  often  to  the 
beautiful  compositions  and  combinations  of  nature,  dis- 
played in  her  majestic  groups,  masses,  and  single  trees,  as 
well  as  open  glades  and  deep  thickets  ;  of  which,  fortu- 
nately, in  most  parts  of  our  country,  checkered  here  and 
there  as  it  is  with  beautiful  and  picturesque  scenery,  there 
is  no  dearth  or  scarcity.  Keeping  these  few  principles  in 
his  mind,  he  will  be  able  to  detect  new  beauties  and  trans- 
fer them  to  his  own  estate  ;  for  nature  is  truly  inexhaustible 
in  her  resources  of  the  Beautiful. 

Classification  of  trees  as  to  expression.  The 
amateur  who  wishes  to  dispose  his  plantations  in  the  natu- 
ral style  of  Landscape  Gardening  so  as  to  produce  graceful 
or  picturesque  landscape,  will  be  greatly  aided  by  a  study 


124  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

of  the  peculiar  expression  of  trees  individually  and  in  com 
position.  The  effect  of  a  certain  tree  singly  is  often  ex- 
ceedingly different  from  that  of  a  group  of  the  same  trees. 
To  be  fully  aware  of  the  effect  of  groups  and  masses 
requires  considerable  study,  and  the  progress  in  this  study 
may  be  greatly  facilitated  by  a  recurrence  from  groups  in 
nature  to  groups  in  pictures. 

As  a  further  aid  to  this  most  desirable  species  of  infor- 
mation we  shall  offer  a  few  remarks  on  the  principal  vari- 
eties of  character  afforded  by  trees  in  composition. 

Almost  all  trees,  with  relation  to  forms,  may  be  divided 
into  three  kinds,  viz.  round-headed  trees,  oblong  or  py7^a- 
midal  trees,  and  spiry-topped  trees  ;  and  so  far  as  the 
expressions  of  the  different  species  comprised  in  these  dis- 
tinct classes  are  concerned,  they  are,  especially  when 
viewed  at  a  distance  (as  much  of  the  wood  seen  in  a 
prospect  of  any  extent  necessarily  must  be),  productive  of 
nearly  the  same  general  effects. 

Round-headed  trees  compose  by  far  the  largest  of  these 
divisions.     The  term  includes  all  those  trees  which  have 
£^^^^        an  irregular  surface  in  their  boughs,  more  or 
^^^^^       less  varied  in  outline,  but  exhibiting  in  the 
'beaded Trees!^'      wholc  a  top  or  head  Comparatively  round  ; 
as  the  oak,  ash,  beech,  and  walnut.     They  are  generally 
beautiful  when  young,  from  their  smoothness,  and  the  ele- 
gance of  their  forms ;  but  often  grow  picturesque  when 
age  and  time  have  had  an  opportunity  to  produce  their 
wonted  effects  upon  them.     In  general,  however,  the  dif- 
ferent round-headed  trees  may  be  considered  as  the  most 
appropriate  for  introduction  in  highly-cultivated  scenery, 
or  landscapes  where  the  character  is  that  of  graceful  oi 
polished  beauty  ;  as  they  harmonize  with  almost  all  scenes, 


ON    WOOD    AND    PLANTATIONS.  125 

ouildings,  and  natural  or  artificial  objects,  uniting -we.l  with 
other  forms  and  doing  violence  to  no  expression  of  scenery, 
from  the  numerous  breaks  in  the  surface  of  their  foliage, 
which  reflect  differently  the  lights  and  produce  deep 
shadows,  there  is  great  intricacy  and  variety  in  the  heads 
of  many  round-topped  trees ;  and  therefore,  as  an  outer 
surface  to  meet  the  eye  in  a  plantation,  they  are  much 
softer  and  more  pleasing  than  the  unbroken  line  exhibited 
by  the  sides  of  oblong  or  spiry-topped  trees.  The  sky 
outline  also,  or  the  upper  part  of  the  head,  varies  greatly 
in  round-topped  trees  from  the  irregularity  in  the  dispo- 
sition of  the  upper  branches  in  different  species,  as  the 
oak  and  ash,  or  even  between  individual  specimens  of  the 
same  kind  of  tree,  as  the  oak,  of  which  we  rarely  see 
two  trees  alike  in  form  and  outline,  although  they  have 
the  same  characteristic  expression  ;  while  on  the  other 
hand  no  two  verdant  objects  can  bear  a  greater  general 
resemblance  to  each  other  and  show  more  sameness  ol 
figure  than  two  Lombardy  poplars. 

"  In  a  tree,"  says  Uvedale  Price,  "  of  which  the  foliage 
IS  everywhere  full  and  unbroken,  there  can  be  but  little 
variety  of  form ;  then,  as  tke  sun  strikes  only  on  the 
surface,  neither  can  there  be  much  variety  of  light  and 
shade ;  and  as  the  apparent  color  of  objects  changes 
according  to  the  different  degrees  of  light  or  shade  in 
which  they  are  placed,  there  can  be  as  little  variety  of 
tint ;  and  lastly,  as  there  are  none  of  these  openings  that 
excite  and  nourish  curiosity,  but  the  eye  is  everywhere 
opposed  by  one  uniform  leafy  screen,  there  can  be  as 
little  intricacy  as  variety."  From  these  remarks,  it  will 
be  pei'ceived  that  even  among  round-headed  trees  there 
may  be  great  difference  in   the   comparative  beauty  of 


120  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

different  sorts  ;  and  judging  from  the  excellent  standard 
here  laid  down,  it  will  also  be  seen  how  much  in  the  eye 
of  a  painter  a  tree  with  a  beautifully  diversified  surface, 
as  the  oak,  surpasses  in  the  composition  of  a  scene  one 
with  a  very  regular  and  compact  surface  and  outline,  as 
the  horse-chestnut.  In  planting  large  masses  of  wood, 
therefore,  or  even  in  forming  large  groups  in  park  scenery, 
round-headed  trees  of  the  ordinary  loose  and  varied 
manner  of  growth  common  in  the  majority  of  forest  trees, 
are  greatly  to  be  preferred  to  all  others.  When  they 
cover  large  tracts,  as  several  acres,  they  convey  an 
emotion  of  grandeur  to  the  mind  ;  when  they  form  vast 
forests  of  thousands  of  acres,  they  produce  a  feeling  of 
sublimity ;  in  the  landscape  garden  when  they  stand 
alone,  or  in  fine  groups,  they  are  graceful  or  beautiful. 
While  young  they  have  an  elegant  appearance ;  when  old 
they  generally  become  majestic  or  picturesque.  Other 
trees  may  suit  scenery  or  scenes  of  particular  and 
decided  characters,  but  round-headed  trees  are  decidedly 
the  chief  adornment  of  general  landscape. 

Spiry-topiied  trees  (Fig.  30)  are  distinguished  by 
straight  leading  stems  and  horizontal  branches,  which  are 
comparatively  small,  and  taper  gradually 
to  a  point.  The  foliage  is  generally  ever- 
green, and  in  most  trees  of  this  class 
^"'  '"•  'ivcS""""^  liangs  in  parallel  or  drooping*  tufts  from 
the  branches.  The  various  evergreen  trees,  composing 
the  spruce  and  fir  families,  most  of  the  pines,  the  cedar, 
and  among  deciduous  trees,  the  larch,  belong  to  this 
division.  Their  hue  is  generally  much  darker  than  that 
of  deciduous   trees,  and   there  is   a  strong   similarity,  oi 


ON    WOOD    AND    PLANTATIONS.  127 

almost  sameness,  in  the  different  kinds  of  trees  vvhicl: 
may  properly  be  called  spiry-topped. 

From  their  sameness  of  form  and  surface  this  class 
of  trees,  when  planted  in  large  tracts  or  masses,  gives 
much  less  pleasure  than  round-headed  trees  ;  and  the  eye 
is  soon  wearied  with  the  monotony  of  appearance 
presented  by  long  rows,  groups,  or  masses,  of  the  same 
form,  outline,  and  appearance ;  to  say  nothing  of  the  effect 
of  the  uniform  dark  color,  unrelieved  by  the  warmer  tints 
of  deciduous  trees.  Any  one  can  bear  testimony  to  this, 
who  has  travelled  through  a  pine,  hemlock,  or  fir  forest, 
where  he  could  not  fail  to  be  struck  with  its  gloom, 
tediousness,  and  monotony,  especially  when  contrasted 
with  the  variety  and  beauty  in  a  natural  wood  of 
deciduous,  round-headed  trees. 

Although  spiry-topped  trees  in  large  masses  cannot  be 
generally  admired  for  ornamental  plantations,  yet  they 
have  a  character  of  their  own,  which  is  very  striking  and 
peculiar,  and  we  may  add,  in  a  high  degree  valuable  to 
the  Landscape  Gardener.  Their  general  expression  when 
single  or  scattered  is  extremely  spirited,  wild,  and 
picturesque ;  and  when  judiciously  introduced  into 
artificial  scenery,  they  produce  the  most  charming  and 
unique  effects.  "  The  situations  where  they  have  most 
effect  is  among  rocks  and  in  very  irregular  surfaces,  and 
especially  on  the  steep  sides  of  high  mountains,  where  their 
forms  and  the  direction  of  their  growth  seem  to  harmonize 
with  the  pointed  rocky  summits."  Fir  and  pine  forests  are 
extremely  dull  and  monotonous  in  sandy  plains  and 
smooth  surfaces  (as  in  the  pine  barrens  of  the  southern 
states)  ;  but  among  the  broken  rocks,  craggy  precif  'ces, 


128  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

and  otherwise  endlessly  varied  surfaces  (as  in  the  Alps 
abroad,  and  the  various  rocky  heights  in  the  Highlands 
of  the  Hudson  and  the  Alleghanies,  at  home)  they  are 
full  of  variety.  It  will  readily  be  seen,  therefore,  that 
spiry-topped  trees  should  always  be  planted  in  considerable 
quantities  in  wild,  broken,  and  picturesque  scenes,  where 
they  will  appear  perfectly  in  keeping,  and  add  wonderfully 
to  the  peculiar  beauty  of  the  situation.  In  all  grounds 
where  there  are  abruptly  varied  surfaces,  steep  banks,  or 
rocky  precipices,  this  class  of  trees  lends  its  efficient  aid 
to  strengthen  the  prevailing  beauty,  and  to  complete  the 
finish  of  the  picture.  In  smooth,  level  surfaces,  though 
spiry-topped  trees  cannot  be  thus  extensively  employea 
they  are  by  no  means  to  be  neglected  or  thought  valueless, 
but  may  be  so  combined  and  mingled  with  other  round- 
headed  and  oblong-headed  trees,  as  to  produce  very  rich 
and  pleasing  effects.  A  tall  larch  or  two,  or  a  few  spruces 
rising  out  of  the  centre  of  a  group,  give  it  life  and  spirit, 
and  add  greatly,  both  by  contrast  of  form  and  color,  to  the 
force  of  round-headed  trees.  A  stately  and  regular  white 
pine  or  hemlock,  or  a  few  thin  groups  of  the  same  trees 
peeping  out  from  amidst,  or  bordering  a  large  mass  of 
deciduous  trees,  have  great  power  in  adding  to  the  interest 
which  the  same  awakens  in  the  mind  of  the  spectator. 
Care  must  be  taken,  however,  that  the  very  spirited  effect 
which  is  here  aimed  at,  is  not  itself  defeated  by  the  over 
anxiety  of  the  planter,  who,  in  scattering  too  profusely 
these  very  strongly  marked  trees,  makes  them  at  last  so 
plentiful,  as  to  give  the  whole  a  mingled  and  confused 
look,  in  which  neither  the  graceful  and  sweeping  outlines 
of  the  round-headed  nor  the  picturesque  summits  of  the 
spiry-topped  trees  predominate  ;  as  the  former  decidedly 


ON    WOOD    AND    PLANTATIONS.  129 

should,   in  all   scenes  where  an  expression  of  peculiarly 
irregular  kind  is  not  aimed  at. 

The  larch,  to  which  we  shall  hereafter  recur  at  some 
length,  may  be  considered  one  of  the  most  picturesque 
trees  of  this  division  ;  and  being  more  rapid  in  its  growth 
than  most  evergreens,  it  may  be  used  as  a  substitute  for, 
or  in  conjunction  with  them,  where  effect  is  speedily 
desired. 

Ohlong-headed  trees  show  heads  of  foliage  more  length- 
ened out,  more  formal,  and  generally  more  tapering,  than 
round-headed  ones.  They  differ  from  spiry- 
topped  trees  in  having  upright  branches  instead 
of  horizontal  ones,  and  in  forming  a  conical  or 
'"he"a(fed  tree's"]  pyramidal  mass  of  foliage,  instead  of  a  spiry, 
tufted  one.  They  are  mostly  deciduous;  and  approaching 
inore  nearly  to  round-headed  trees  than  spiry-topped  ones 
do,  they  may  perhaps  be  more  frequently  introduced. 
The  Lombardy  poplar  may  be  considered  the  representa- 
tive of  this  division,  as  the  oak  is  of  the  first,  and  the 
larch  and  fir  of  the  second.  Abroad,  the  oriental  cypress, 
an  evergreen,  is  used  to  produce  similar  effects  in 
scenery. 

The  great  use  of  the  Lombardy  poplar,  and  other 
similar  trees  in  composition,  is  to  relieve  or  break  into 
groups,  large  masses  of  wood.  This  it  does  very 
effectually,  when  its  tall  summit  rises  at  intervals  from 
among  round -headed  trees,  forming  pyramidal  centres 
to  groups  where  there  was  only  a  swelling  and  flowing 
outline.  Foimal  rows,  or  groups  of  oblong-headed  trees, 
however,  are  tiresome  and  monotonous  to  the  last  degree  , 
a  straight  line  of  them  being  scarcely  better  in  appearance 
than  a  tall,  stiff,  gigantic  hedge.     Examples  of  this  can  be- 


130  LANDSCAPE  GAKDENING. 

easily  found  in  many  parts  of  the  Union  where  th ».  crude 
and  formal  taste  of  proprietors,  by  leading  them  to  plant 
long  lines  of  Lombardy  poplars,  has  had  the  effect  of 
destroying  the  beauty  of  many  a  fine  prospect  and 
building. 

Conical  or  oblong-headed  trees,  when  carefully  employed, 
are  very  effective  for  purposes  of  contrast,  in  conjunction 
with  horizontal  lines  of  buildings  such  as  we  see  in 
Grecian  or  Italian  architecture.  Near  such  edifices, 
sparingly  introduced,  and  mingled  in  small  proportion 
with  round-headed  trees,  they  contrast  advantageously 
with  the  long  cornices,  flat  roofs,  and  horizontal  lines  that 
predominate  in  their  exteriors.  Lombardy  poplars  are 
often  thus  introduced  in  pictures  of  Italian  scenery,  where 
they  sometimes  break  the  formality  of  a  long  line  of  wall 
in  the  happiest  manner.  Nevertheless,  if  they  should  be 
indiscriminately  employed,  or  even  used  in  any  con- 
siderable portion  in  the  decoration  of  the  ground 
immediately  adjoining  a  building  of  any  pretensions, 
they  would  inevitably  defeat  this  purpose,  and  by  their 
tall  and  formal  growth  diminish  the  apparent  magnitude, 
as  well  as  the  elegance  of  the  house. 

Drooping  trees,  though  often  classed  with  oblong- 
headed  trees,  differ  from  them  in  so  many  particulars, 
that  they  deserve  to  be  ranked  under  a  separate  head. 
To  this  class  belong  the  weeping  willow,  the  weeping 
birch,  the  drooping  elm,  etc.  Their  prominent  charac- 
teristics are  gracefulness  and  elegance  ;  and  we  considei 
them  as  unfit,  therefore,  to  be  employed  to  any  extent 
in  scenes  where  it  is  desirable  to  keep  up  the  expression 
of  a  wild  or  highly  picturesque  character.  As  single 
objects,  or  tastefully  grouped  in  beautiful  landscape,  they 


ON    WOOD    AND    PLANTATIONS.  131 

are  in  excellent  keeping,  and   contribute    much    to  give 
value  to  the  leading  expression. 

When  drooping  trees  are  mixed  indiscriminately  with 
other    round-headed  trees   in  the  composition  of  groups 
or  masses,  much  of  their  individual  character  is  lost,  as 
it  depends  not  so  much  on    the    top    (as   in   oblong  and 
spiry   trees)    as   upon   the   side    branches,  which  are  of 
course  concealed  by  those  of  the  adjoining  trees.     Droop- 
ing trees,  therefore,  as  elms,  birches,  etc.,  are  shown  to 
the    best    advantage   on   the   borders   of   groups   or   the 
boundaries  of  plantations.     It  must  not  be  forgotten,  but 
constantly  kept  in  mind,  that  all  strongly  marked  trees, 
like  bright  colors   in  pictures,  only  admit   of  occasional 
employment ;    and   that   the   very   object    aimed    at    in 
introducing  them   will   be   defeated   if  they   are   brought 
into    the    lawn    and    park    in    masses,    and    distributed 
heedlessly  on  every  side.     An  English  author  very  justly 
remarks,   therefore,  that   the  poplar,  the  willow,  and  the 
drooping  birch,  are  "  most  dangerous  trees  in  the  hands 
of  a  planter  who  has  not  considerable    knowledge   and 
good  taste  in  the  composition  of  a  landscape."     Some   of 
them,   as    the   native    elm,   from   their  abounding   in  oui 
own   woods,   may    appear   oftener;    while   others   which 
have  a  peculiar  and  exotic  look,  as  the  weeping  willow, 
should  only  be  seen  in  situations  where  they  either  do 
not  disturb  the  prevailing  expression,  or  (which  is  better) 
where  they  are  evidently  in  good  keeping.     "  The  weeping 
willow,"  says  Gilpin,  with  his  usual  good  taste,  "is  not 
adapted  to  sublime  objects.     We  wish  it  not  to  screen 
the   broken  buttress  and   Gothic  windows    of  an  abbey, 
or   to   overshadow   the   battlements    of    a   ruined    castle. 
These  offices  it  resigns   to   the  oak,  whose  dignity  can 


132  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

support  them.  The  weeping  willow  seeks  an  humble 
scene — some  romantic  footpath  bridge,  which  it  half 
conceals,  or  some  grassy  pool  over  which  it  hangs  its 
streaming  foliage, 

'  And  dips 


Its  pendent  boughs,  as  if  to  drink.' "  * 

The  manner  in  which  a  picturesque  bit  of  landscape 
can  be  supported  by  picturesque  spiry-topped  trees,  and 
its  expression  degraded  by  the  injudicious  employment 
of  graceful  drooping  trees,  will  be  apparent  to  the  reader 
in  the  two  accompanying  little  sketches.  In  the  first  (Fig. 
32),  the  abrupt  hill,  the  rapid 
mountain  torrent,  and  the  distant 
I  Alpine  summits,  are  in  fine  keep- 
ing with  the  tall  spiry  larches  and 
[Fig.  32.  Tre^s  in  lieeping.]  firs,  which,  shooting  up  ou  either 
side  of  the  old  bridge,  occupy  the  foreground.  In  the 
second  (Fig.  33),  there  is  evidently  something  discordant 
in  the  scene  which  strikes  the  spectator  at  first  sight ;  this 
is  the  misplaced  introduction  of  the  large  willows,  which 
belong  to  a  scene  very  different 

^-:*0^  's^-^NJ^siv?^^^'  ^^  character.  Imagine  a  removal 
^^Hjj^^^^^^^r^.  of  the  surrounding  hills,  and  let 
^^^^^^^^^^^^^0  the  rapid  stream  spread  out  into  a 
[Fi-.  33.  Trocs  out  of  kcrpin?.]  smooth  peaceful  lake  with  gradu- 
illy  retiring  shores,  and  the  blue  summits  in  the  distance, 
and  then  the  willows  will  harmonize  admirably. 

Having  now  described  the  peculiar  characteristics  of 
these  diflferent  classes  of  round-headed,  spiry-topped 
oblong,  and  drooping  trees,  we  should  consider  the  proper 

•  Forest  Scenery,  p.  133. 


ON    WOOD    AND    PLANTATIONS.  133 

method  by  which  a  harmonious  combination  of  the 
aifferent  forms  composing  them  may  be  made  so  as  not 
to  violate  correct  principles  of  taste.  An  indiscriminate 
mixture  of  their  different  forms  would,  it  is  evident, 
produce  anything  but  an  agreeable  effect.  For  example, 
let  a  person  plant  together  in  a  group,  three  trees  of 
totally  opposite  forms  and  expressions,  viz.  a  weeping 
willow,  an  oak,  and  a  poplar ;  and  the  expression  of  the 
whole  would  be  destroyed  by  the  confusion  resulting 
from  their  discordant  forms.  On  the  other  hand,  the 
mixture  of  trees  that  exactly  correspond  in  their  forms,  if 
these  forms,  as  in  oblong  or  drooping  trees,  are  similar, 
will  infallibly  create  sameness.  In  order  then  to  produce 
beautiful  variety  which  shall  neither  on  the  one  side  run 
into  confusion,  nor  on  the  other  verge  into  monotony,  it 
is  requisite  to  give  some  little  attention  to  the  harmony 
of  form  and  color  in  the  composition  of  trees  in  artificial 
plantations. 

The  only  rules  which  we  can  suggest  to  govern  the 
planter  are  these  :  First,  if  a  certain  leading  expression  is 
desired  in  a  group  of  trees,  together  with  as  great  a  variety 
as  possible,  such  species  must  be  chosen  as  harmonize  with 
each  other  in  certain  leading  points.  And,  secondly,  in 
occasionally  intermingling  trees  of  opposite  characters, 
discordance  may  be  prevented,  and  harmonious  expression 
promoted,  by  interposing  other  trees  of  an  intermediate 
character. 

In  the  first  case,  suppose  it  is  desired  to  form  a  group 
of  trees,  in  which  gracefulness  must  be  the  leading 
expression.  The  willow  alone  would  have  the  effect ;  but 
in  groups,  willows  alone  produce  sameness  :  in  order, 
therefore,  to  give  variety,  we  must  choose  other  tree* 


134  LANDSCAPE    GARDEMNG. 

which,  while  they  differ  from  the  willow  in  some 
particulars,  agree  in  others.  The  elm  has  mucn  larger 
and  darker  foliage,  while  it  has  also  a  drooping  spray  ;  the 
weeping  birch  differs  in  its  leaves,  but  agrees  in  the  pensile 
flow  of  its  branches  ;  the  common  birch  has  few  pendent 
boughs,  but  resembles  in  the  airy  lightness  of  its  leaves  ; 
and  the  three-thorned  acacia,  though  its  branches  are 
horizontal,  has  delicate  foliage  of  nearly  the  same  hue  and 
floating  lightness  as  the  willow.  Here  we  have  a  group 
of  five  trees,  which  is,  in.  the  whole,  full  of  gracefulness 
and  variety,  while  there  is  nothing  in  the  composition 
inharmonious  to  the  practised  eye. 

To  illustrate  the  second  case,  let  us  suppose  a  long 
sweeping  outline  of  maples,  birches,  and  other  light, 
mellow-colored  trees,  which  the  improver  wishes  to  vary 
and  break  into  groups,  by  spiry-topped,  evergreen  trees. 
It  is  evident,  that  if  these  trees  were  planted  in  such  a 
manner  as  to  peer  abruptly  out  of  the  light-colored  foliage 
of  the  former  trees,  in  dark  or  almost  black  masses  of 
tapering  verdure,  the  effect  would  be  by  no  means  so 
satisfactory  and  pleasing,  as  if  there  were  a  partial 
transition  from  the  mellow,  pale  green  of  the  maples,  etc., 
to  the  darker  hues  of  the  oak,  ash,  or  beech,  and  finally 
the  sombre  tint  of  the  evergreens.  Thus  much  for  the 
coloring ;  and  if,  in  addition  to  this,  oblong-headed  trees 
or  pyramidal  trees  were  also  placed  near  and  partly 
intermingled  with  the  spiry-topped  ones,  the  unity  of  the 
whole  composition  would  be  still  more  complete.* 

*  We  are  persaaded  that  very  few  persona  are  aware  of  the  beauty,  varied 
and  endless,  that  may  be  produced  by  arranging  trees  with  regard  to  their 
coloring.  It  requires  the  eye  and  genius  of  a  Claude  or  a  Poussin,  to 
develope  all  these  hidden  beautks  of  harmonious  combinatiou.     Gilpin  rightly 


ON    WOOD    AND    PLANTATIONS, 


135 


Contrasts,  again,  are  often  admissible  in  woody  scenery ; 
and  we  would  not  wish  to  lose  many  of  our  most  superb 
trees,  because  they  could  not  be  introduced  in  particular 
portions  of  landscape.  Contrasts  in  trees  may  be  so 
violent  as  to  be  displeasing ;  as  in  the  example  of  the 
groups  of  the  three  trees,  the  willow,  poplar,  and  oak : 
or  they  n;iay  be  such  as  to  produce  spirited  and  pleasing 
effects.  This  must  be  effected  by  planting  the  different 
divisions  of  trees,  first,  in  small  leading  groups,  and  then 
by  effecting  a  union  between  the  groups  of  different 
character,  by  intermingling  those  of  the  nearest  similarity 
into  and  near  the  groups :  in  this  way,  by  easy  transitions 
from  the  drooping  to  the  round-headed,  and  from  these  to 
the  tapering  trees,  the  whole  of  the  foliage  and  forms 
harmonize  well. 


|Fig.  34.    Example  in  grouping.] 


"  Trees,"  observes  Mr.  Whately,  in  his  elegant  treatise 
on  this  subject,  "  which  differ  in  but  one  of  these 
circumstances,  of  shape,  green,  or  growth,  though  they 
agree  in  every  other,  are  sufficiently  distinguished  for  the 


Bays,  in  speaking  of  the  dark  Scotch  fir,  "  with  regard  to  color  in  general,  I 
Aink  I  speak  the  language  of  painting,  when  I  assert  that  the  picturesque  eye 
makes  little  distinction  in  this  matter.  It  has  no  attachment  to  one  color  in 
preference  to  another,  but  considers  the  beauty  of  all  coloring  as  resulting,  not 
from  the  colors  themselves,  but  almost  entirely  from  their  harmony  with  other 
tolors  in  their  neighborhood.  So  that  as  the  Scotch  fir  tree  is  combined  ar 
stationed,  it  forms  a  beautiful  umbrage  or  a  murky  spot." 


136  LANUSCAPK  GAUUENING. 

purpose  of  variety ;  if  they  differ  in  two  or  three,  the}i 
become  contrasts  :  if  in  all,  they  are  opposite,  and  seldom 
group  well  together.  Those,  on  the  contrary,  which  are 
of  one  character,  and  are  distinguished  only  as  the 
characteristic  mark  is  strongly  or  faintly  impressed  upon 
them,  form  a  beautiful  mass,  and  unity  is  preserved 
without  sameness."* 

There  is  another  circumstance  connected  with  the 
color  of  trees,  that  will  doubtless  suggest  itself  to  the 
improver  of  taste,  the  knowledge  of  which  may  sometimes 
be  turned  to  valuable  account.  We  mean  the  effects 
produced  in  the  apparent  coloring  of  a  landscape  by 
distance,  which  painters  term  aerial  perspective.  Stand- 
ing at  a  certain  position  in  a  scene,  the  coloring  is  deep, 
rich,  and  full  in  the  foreground,  more  tender  and  mellow 
in  the  middle-ground,  and  softening  to  a  pale  tint  in  the 
distance. 

"  Where  to  the  eye  three  well  marked  distances 
Spread  their  peculiar  coloring,  vivid  green. 
Warm  brown,  and  black  opake  the  foreground  bears 
Conspicuous :  sober  olive  coldly  marks 
The  second  distance ;  thence  the  third  declines 
In  softer  blue,  or  lessening  still,  is  lost 
In  fainted  purple.     When  thy  taste  is  call'd 
To  deck  a  scene  where  nature's  self  presents 
All  these  distinct  gradations,' then  rejoice 
As  does  the  Painter,  and  like  him  apply 
Thy  colors ;  plant  thou  on  each  separate  part 
Its  proper  foliage." 

Advantage  may  occasionally  be  taken  of  this  peculiarity 
in  the  gradation  of  color,  in  Landscape  Gardening,  by  the 
creation,  as  it  were,  of  an  artificial  distance.     In  grounds 

»  Observations  on  Modem  Gardening. 


ON    WOOD    AND    PLANTATIONS.  13T 

and  scenes  of  limited  extent,  the  apparent  size  and 
breadth  may  be  increased,  by  planting  a  majority  of  the 
trees  in  the  foreground,  of  dark  tints,  and  the  boundary 
with  foliage  of  a  much  lighter  hue.  In  the  same  way,  the 
apparent  breadth  of  a  piece  of  water  will  be  greatly  added 
to,  by  placing  the  paler  colored  trees  on  the  shore 
opposite  to  the  spectator.  These  hints  will  suggest  other 
ideas  and  examples  of  a  similar  nature,  to  the  minds 
of  those  who  are  alive  to  the  more  minute  and  exquisite 
beauties  of  the  landscape. 

An  acquaintance,  individually,  with  the  different 
pecies  of  trees  of  indigenous  and  foreign  growth,  which 
may  be  cultivated  with  success  in  this  climate,  is 
absolutely  essential  to  the  amateur  or  the  professor  of 
Landscape  Gardening.  The  tardiness  or  rapidity  of  their 
growth,  the  periods  at  which  their  leaves  and  flowers 
expand,  the  soils  they  love  best,  and  their  various  habits 
and  characters,  are  all  subjects  of  the  highest  interest  to 
him.  In  short,  as  a  love  of  the  country  almost  commences 
with  a  knowledge  of  its  peculiar  characteristics,  the  pure 
air,  the  fresh  enamelled  turf,  and  the  luxuriance  and 
oeauty  of  the  whole  landscape ;  so  the  taste  for  the 
embellishment  of  Rural  Residences  must  grow  out  of  an 
admiration  for  beautiful  trees,  and  the  delightful  effects 
they  are  capable  of  producing  in  the  hands  of  persons  of 
taste  and  lovers  of  nature. 

Admitting  this,  we  think,  in  the  comparatively  meagre 
state  of  general  information  on  this  subject  among  us,  we 
shall  render  ah  acceptable  service  to  the  novice,  by  giving 
a  somewhat  detailed  description  of  the  character  and 
habits  of  most  of  the  finest  hardy  forest  and  ornamenta.' 
trees.     Among   those    living   in   the   country,   there   are 


138  LANUSCAPK  GARDENING 

many  who  care  little  for  the  beauties  of  Landscape 
Gardening,  who  are  yet  interested  in  those  trees  which 
are  remarkable  for  the  beauty  of  their  forms,  their  foliage, 
their  blossoms,  or  their  useful  purposes.  This,  we  hope, 
will  be  a  sufficient  explanation  for  the  apparently 
disproportionate  number  of  pages  which  we  shall  devote 
to  this  part  of  our  subject. 


DECIDUOUS    ORN'AMENTAL    TREKS.  131) 


SECTION   IV. 

DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES. 
The  History  and  Description  of  all  the  finest  hardy  Deciduous  Trees.     Remarks  on 

THKIR  gyyECTS  IN    LANDSCAPE  GARDENING,  INDIVIDUALLY  AND  IN  COMPOSITION.       Their 

CultiVBtJon,  etc.  The  Oak.  The  Elm.  The  Ash.  The  Linden.  The  Beech.  The 
Poplar.  The  Horse-chestnut.  The  Birch.  The  Alder.  The  Maple.  The  Locust. 
The  Three-thcrned  Acacia.  The  Judas-tree.  The  Chestnut.  The  Osage  Orange. 
The  Mulberry.  The  Paper  Mulberry.  The  Sweet  Gum.  The  Walnut.  The  Hickory 
The  Mountain  Ash.  The  Ailantus.  The  Kentucky  Coffee.  The  Willow.  The 
Sassafras.  The  Catalpa.  The  Persimon.  The  Pepperidge.  The  Thorn.  The 
Magnolia.  The  Tulip.  The  Dogwood.  The  Salisburia.  The  Paulonia.  TheVirgilia 
The  Cypress.    The  Larch,  etc. 

O  gloriosi  spiriti  de  gli  boschi, 

0  Eco,  o  antri  foschi,  o  chiaie  linfe, 

O  faretrate  ninfe,  o  agresti  Pani, 

O  Satiri  e  Silvani,  o  Fauni  e  Driadi, 

Naiadi  ed  Amadriadi,  o  Semidee 

Oreadi  e  J^apee. — 

Sannazzabi. 

"  0  spirits  of  the  woods. 
Echoes  and  solitudes,  and  lakes  of  light ; 
0  quivered  virgins  bright,  Pan's  rustical 
Satyrs  and  sylvans  all,  dryads  and  ye 
That  up  the  mountains  be  ;  and  ye  beneath 
In  meadow  or  in  flowery  heath." 

The  Oak.     Quercus. 

Nat.  Ord.  Corylaceee-  Lin.  S7jst.  MoncEcia,  Polyaudria. 

H  E  Arcadians  believed  the  oak  to  have 
:)i  been  the  first  created  of  all   trees;   and 
when  we  consider  its  great  and  surpassing 
!§'  utility  and  beauty,  we  are  fully  disposed 

;o  concede  it  the  first  rank  among  the  denizens  of  the 


t", 


140  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

forest.  Springing  up  with  a  noble  trunk,  and  stretching 
out  its  broad  limbs  over  the  soil, 

"  These  monarchs  of  the  wood. 
Dark,  gnarled,  centennial  oaks," 

seem  proudly  to  bid  defiance  to  time  ;  and  while  generations 
of  man  appear  and  disappear,  they  withstand  the  storms  of 
a  thousand  winters,  and  seem  only  to  grow  more  venerable 
and  majestic.  They  are  mentioned  in  the  oldest  histories ; 
we  are  told  that  Absalom  was  caught  by  his  hair  in  "  the 
thick  boughs  of  a  great  oak  ;"  and  Herodotus  informs  us 
that  the  first  oracle  was  that  of  Dodona,  set  up  in  the 
celebrated  oak  grove  of  that  name.  There,  at  first,  the 
oracles  were  delivered  by  the  priestesses,  but,  as  was  after- 
wards believed,  by  the  inspired  oaks  themselves — 

"  Which  in  Dodona  did  enshrine, 
So  faith  too  fondly  deemed,  a  voice  divine." 

Acorns,  the  fruit  of  the  oak,  appear  to  have  been  held  in 
considerable  estimation  as  an  article  of  food  among  the 
ancients.  Not  only  were  the  swine  fattened  upon  them,  as 
in  our  own  forests,  but  they  were  ground  into  flour,  with 
which  bread  was  made  by  the  poorer  classes.  Lucretius 
mentions,  that  before  grain  was  known  they  were  the  com- 
mon food  of  man ;  but  we  suppose  the  fruit  of  the  chestnut 
may  also  have  been  included  under  that  term. 

"  That  oake  whose  acomes  were  our  foode  before 
The  Cerese  scede  of  mortal  man  was  knowne." 

Spenser. 

The  civic  crown,  given  in  the  palmy  days  of  Rome  tc 
the  most  celebrated  men,  was  also  composed  of  oak  leaves 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES,  141 

It  should  not  be  forgotten  that  the  oak  was  worshipped 
oy  the  ancient  Britons.  Baal  or  Yiaoul  (whence  Yule) 
was  the  god  of  fire,  whose  symbol  was  an  oak.  Hence  at 
his  festival,  which  was  at  Christmas,  the  ceremony  of  kin- 
dling the  Yule  log  was  performed  among  the  ancient  Druids. 
This  fire  was  kept  perpetual  throughout  the  year,  and  the 
hearths  of  all  the  people  were  annually  lighted  from  these 
sacred  fires  every  Christmas.  We  believe  the  curious 
custom  is  still  extant  in  some  remote  parts  of  England, 
where  the  "  Yule  log"  is  ushered  in  with  much  glee  and 
rejoicing  once  a  year. 

As  an  ornamental  object  we  consider  the  oak  the  most 
varied  in  expression,  the  most  beautiful,  grand,  majestic, 
and  picturesque  of  all  deciduous  trees.  The  enormous 
size  and  extreme  old  age  to  which  it  attains  in  a  favorable 
situation,  the  great  space  of  ground  that  it  covers  with  its 
branches,  and  the  strength  and  hardihood  of  the  tree,  all 
contribute  to  stamp  it  with  the  character  of  dignity  and 
grandeur  beyond  any  other  compeer  of  the  forest.  When 
young  its  fine  foliage  (singularly  varied  in  many  of  our 
native  species)  and  its  thrifty  form  render  it  a  beautiful 
tree.  But  it  is  not  until  the  oak  has  attained  considerable 
size  that  it  displays  its  true  character,  and  only  when  at  an 
age  that  would  terminate  the  existence  of  most  other  trees 
that  it  exhibits  all  its  magnificence.  Then  its  deeply  fur- 
rowed trunk  is  covered  with  mosses  ;  its  huge  branches, 
each  a  tree,  spreading  out  horizontally  from  the  trunk  with 
great  boldness,  its  trunk  of  huge  dimension,  and  its  "  high 
top,  bald  with  dry  antiquity  ;"  all  these,  its  true  character- 
istics, stamp  the  oak,  as  Virgil  has  expressed  it  in  his 
Georgics — 


142  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

"  Jove's  own  tree. 
That  holds  the  woods  in  awful  sovereignty  ; 
For  length  of  ages  lasts  his  happy  reign, 
And  lives  of  mortal  man  contend  in  vain. 
Full  in  the  midst  of  his  own  strength  he  stands. 
Stretching  his  brawny  arms  and  leafy  hands, 
His  shade  protects  the  plains,  his  head  the  hills  commands." 

Dryden's  Trans. 

"  The  oak,"  says  Gilpin,  "  is  confessedly  the  most  pictu- 
resque tree  in  itself,  and  the  most  accommodating  in  com- 
position. It  refuses  no  subject  either  in  natural  or  in 
artificial  landscape.  It  is  suited  to  the  grandest,  and  may 
with  propriety  be  introduced  into  the  most  pastoral.  It 
adds  new  dignity  to  the  ruined  tower  and  the  Gothic  arch ; 
and  by  stretching  its  wild,  moss-grown  branches  athwart 
their  ivied  walls,  it  gives  them  a  kind  of  majesty  coeval 
with  itself;  at  the  same  time  its  propriety  is  still  preserved 
if  it  throws  its  arms  over  the  purling  brook  or  the  mantling 
pool,  where  it  beholds 

"  Its  reverend  image  in  the  expanse  below." 

Milton  introduces  it  happily  even  in  the  lowest  scene— 

"  Hard  by  a  cottage  chimney  smokes, 
From  between  two  aged  oaks." 

The  oak  is  not  only  one  of  the  grandest  and  most  pictu- 
resque objects  as  a  single  tree  upon  a  lawn,  but  it  is  equally 
unrivalled  for  groups  and  masses.  There  is  a  breadth  about 
the  lights  and  shadows  reflected  and  embosomed  in  its 
foliage,  a  singular  freedom  and  boldness  in  its  outline,  and 
a  pleasing  richness  and  intricacy  in  its  huge  ramification 
of  branch  and  limb,  that  render  it  highly  adapted  to  these 
purposes.     Some  trees,  as  the  willow  or  the  spiry  poplar 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES. 


143 


though  pleasing  singly,  are  monotonous  to  the  last  degree 
when  planted  in  quantities.  Not  so,  however,  with  the 
oak,  as  there  is  no  tree,  when  forming  a  wood  entirely  by 
itself,  which  affords  so  great  a  variety  of  form  and  dispo- 
sition, light  and  shade,  symmetry  and  irregularity,  as  this 
king  of  the  forests. 

To  arrive  at  its  highest  perfection,  ample  space  on  every 
side  must  be  allowed  the  oak.  A  free  exposure  to  the  sun 
and  air,  and  a  deep  mellow  soil,  are  highly  necessary  to  its 
fullest  amplitude.     For  this  reason,  the  oaks  of  our  forests, 


[Fig.  35.    The  Charter  Oak,  flartfoyd.] 

being  thickly  crowded,  are  seldom  of  extraordinary  size ; 
and  there  are  more  truly  majestic  oaks  in  the  parks  of 
England  than  are  to  be  found  in  the  whole  cultivated  por- 
tion of  the  United  States.  Here  and  there,  however, 
throughout  our  country  may  be  seen  a  solitary  oak  of  great 


144  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

age  and  immense  size,  which  attests  the  fitness  of  the  soil 
and  cHmate,  and  displays  the  grandeur  of  our  native  species. 
The  Wads  worth  Oak  near  Geneseo,  N.  Y.,  of  extraordinary 
dimensions,  the  product  of  one  of  our  most  fertile  valleys, 
has  attracted  the  admiration  of  hundreds  of  travellers  on 
the  route  to  Niagara.  Its  trunk  measures  thirty-six  feet  in 
circumference.  The  celebrated  Charter  Oak  at  Hartford, 
which  has  figured  so  conspicuously  in  the  history  of  New 
England,  is  still  existing  in  a  green  old  age,  one  of  the  most 
interesting  monuments  of  the  past  to  be  found  in  the 
country.* 

Near  the  village  of  Flushing,  Long  Island,  on  the  farm 
of  Judge  Lawrence,  is  growing  one  of  the  noblest  oaks  in 
the  country.  It  is  truly  park-like  in  its  dimensions,  the 
circumference  of  the  trunk  being  nearly  thirty  feet,  and  its 
majestic  head  of  corresponding  dignity.  In  the  deep 
alluvial  soil  of  the  western  valleys,  the  oak  often  assumes 
a  grand  aspect,  and  bears  witness  to  the  wonderful  fertility 
of  the  soil  in  that  region.f 

*  The  house  seen  in  the  engraving  represents  the  old  "  Wyllis  House." 
This  family,  its  former  occupants,  furnished  the  Secretary  of  State  for  Con- 
necticut for  more  than  a  century.  Near  the  Charter  Oak  are  some  of  the 
apple  trees  planted  by  the  Pilgrims,  evidently  Pearmains.  Some  of  these, 
lately  felled,  have  been  examined,  and  are  found  to  be  more  than  200  years 
old. 

t  The  following  well  authenticated  description  of  a  famous  English  oak,  is 
worth  a  record  here.  "  Close  by  the  gate  of  the  water  walk  of  Magdalen 
College,  Oxford,  grew  an  oak  which  perhaps  stood  there  a  sapling  when  Alfred 
the  Great  founded  the  University.  This  period  only  includes  a  space  of  900 
vears,  which  is  no  great  age  for  an  oak.  About  500  years  after  the  time  of 
Alfred,  Dr.  Stukely  tells  us,  William  of  Waynefleet  expressly  ordered  his  college 
(.Magdalen  College)  to  be  founded  near  the  Great  Oak  ;  and  an  oak  could  not, 
I  think,  be  less  than  500  years  of  age  to  merit  that  title,  together  with  the 
honor  of  fixing  the  site  of  a  college.  When  the  magnificence  of  Cardinal 
Wolsey  erected  that  handsome  tower  which  is  so  ornamental  to  the  whole 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  145 

As  beauty  is  often  closely  connected  in  our  minds  with 
utility,  we  must  be  allowed  a  word  on  the  great  value  of 
this  tree.  For  its  useful  properties  the  oak  has  scarcely 
any  superior.  "  To  enumerate,"  says  old  Evelyn  in  his 
quaint  Sylva,  "  the  incomparable  uses  of  this  wood  were 
needless ;  but  so  precious  was  the  esteem  of  it  of  old,  there 
was  an  express  law  among  the  Twelve  Tables  concerning 
the  very  gathering  of  the  acorns,  though  they  should  be 
found  fallen  on  another  man's  ground.  The  land  and  the 
sea  do  sufficiently  speak  for  the  improvement  of  this  excel- 
lent material,  for  houses  and  ships,  cities  and  navies,  are 
builded  with  it."     In    almost    all   the    finest  buildings   of 

building,  this  tree  might  probably  be  in  the  meridian  of  its  glory.  It  wa3 
afterwards  much  injured  in  the  reign  of  Charles  II.,  when  the  present  walks 
were  laid  out.  Its  roots  were  disturbed,  and  from  that  time  it  declined  fast 
and  became  a  mere  trunk.  The  oldest  members  of  the  Univensity  can  hardly 
recollect  it  in  better  plight ;  but  the  faithful  records  of  history  have  handed 
down  its  ancient  dimensions.  Through  a  space  of  IG  yards  on  every  side  it 
once  flung  its  branches  ;  and  under  its  magnificent  pavilion  could  have  shel- 
tered wth  ease  3,000  men.  In  the  summer  of  1778  this  magnificent  ruin  fell 
to  the  ground.  From  a  part  of  its  ruins  a  chair  has  been  made  for  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  College,  which  will  long  continue  its  memory." — Gilpin's  Forest 
Scenery. 

The  King  Oak,  Windsor  Forest,  once  the  favorite  tree  of  William  the  Con- 
queror, is  now  more  than  1,000  years  old,  and  the  interior  of  the  trunk  is  quite 
hollow.  Professor  Burnet,  who  described  it,  lunched  inside  this  tree  with  a 
party,  and  says  it  is  capable  of  accommodating  ten  or  twelve  persons  com- 
fortably at  dinner,  sitting. 

The  Beggar's  Oak  in  Bagot's  Park  is  twenty  feet  in  girth  five  feet  from  the 
ground.  The  roots  rise  above  the  surface  in  a  very  extraordinary  manner,  so 
as  to  furnish  a  natural  seat  for  the  beggars  chancing  to  pass  along  the  pathway 
near  it ;  and  the  circumference  taken  there  is  68  feet.  The  branches  extend 
from  the  tree  48  feet  in  every  direction. 

The  Wallace  Oak  at  Edenslee,  near  where  Wallace  was  bom,  is  a  nobb 
tree  21  feet  in  circumference.  It  is  67  feet  high,  and  its  branches  extend  45 
feet  east,  36  west,  30  south,  and  25  north.  Wallace  and  300  of  his  men  are 
said  to  have  hid  themselves  from  the  English  among  the  branches  of  this  tree 
which  was  then  in  full  leaf. 

10 


146  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

Europe,  particularly  the  vast  Gothic  edifices  of  the  middle 
ages,  oak  was  the  chief  material  for  the  interior.  The  rich 
old  wainscot,  the  innumerable  carvings  and  decorations  of 
those  days  were  executed  in  this  material.  In  America 
the  vast  pine  forests  produce  a  wood  easily  wrought,  which 
has  in  a  great  measure  superseded  the  use  of  this  fine  tim- 
ber, and  the  exportation  of  immense  quantities  of  the 
former  to  the  eastern  continent,  has  even  in  some  degree 
lessened  its  consumption  abroad.  But  for  certain  purposes 
where  great  strength  and  durability  are  required,  the  oak 
will  always  take  the  precedence  claimed  for  it  by  Evelyn.* 
The  English  oak  is  probably  rather  superior  in  these  quali- 
ties to  most  of  our  American  species ;  but  for  ship-building 
the  Live  oak  of  the  southern  states  is  not  exceeded  by  any 
timber  in  the  world. 

Different  species  of  Oak.  This  country  is  peculiarly 
rich  in  various  kinds  of  oak ;  Michaux  enumerating  no  less 
than  forty  species  indigenous  to  North  America.  Of  these 
the  most  useful  are  the  Live  oak  (Quercus  virens),  of  such 
inestimable  value  for  ship-building  ;  the  Spanish  oak  (Q. 
falcata) ;  the  Red  oak  (Q.  rubra),  etc.,  the  bark  of  which 
is  extensively  used  in  tanning ;  the  Quercitron  or  Black 
oak,  which  is  highly  valuable  as  affording  a  fine  yellow  or 
brown  dye  for  wool,  silks,  paper-hangings,  etc.  ;  and  the 
White  oak,  which  is  chiefly  used  for  timber.     We  shall 

»  The  doors  of  the  inner  chapels  of  Westminster,  it  is  stated,  are  of  the  same 
age  as  the  original  building  ;  and  as  the  original  ancient  edifice  was  founded 
in  611  they  must  consequently  be  more  than  1,200  years  old.  Professor  Bur- 
net, in  his  curious  Amcnitatcs  Quercincoi,  observes,  that  many  of  the  stakes 
driven  into  the  Thames  by  the  Ancient  Britons,  to  impede  the  progress  of 
Julius  Cffisar,  are  in  a  good  state  of  preservatioc,  "  having  witlistood  tha 
destroyer  time  nearly  2,000  jaars." 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  147 

here  describe  only  a  few  of  those  which  are  most  entitled 
to  the  consideration  of  the  planter,  either  for  their  valuable 
properties  or  as  ornamental  trees,  and  calculated  for  plant- 
ing in  woods  or  single  masses. 

The  White  oak.  {Quercus  alba)  This  is  one  of  the  most 
common  of  the  American  oaks,  being  very  generally  dis- 
tributed over  the  country,  from  Canada  to  the  southern 
states.  In  good  strong  soils  it  forms  a  tree  70  or  80  feet 
high,  with  wide  extending  branches  ;  but  its  growth  de- 
pends much  upon  this  circumstance.  It  may  readily  be 
known  even  in  winter  by  its  whitish  bark,  and  by  the  dry 
and  withered  leaves  which  often  hang  upon  this  species 
throucrh  the  whole  of  that  season.  The  leaves  are  about 
four  inches  wide  and  six  in  length,  divided  uniformly  into 
rounded  lobes  without  points  ;  these  lobes  are  deeper  in 
damp  soils.  When  the  leaves  first  unfold  in  the  spring 
they  are  downy  beneath,  but  when  fully  grown  they  are 
quite  smooth,  and  pale  green  on  the  upper  surface  and 
whitish  or  glaucous  below.  The  acorn  is  oval  and  the  cup 
somewhat  flattened  at  the  base.  This  is  the  most  valuable 
of  all  our  native  oaks,  immense  quantities  of  the  timber 
being  used  for  various  purposes  in  building  ;  and  staves  of 
the  white  oak  for  barrels  are  in  universal  use  throughout 
the  Union.  The  great  occasional  size  and  fine  form  of  this 
tree,  in  some  natural  situations,  prove  how  noble  an  object 
it  would  become  when  allowed  to  expand  in  full  vigor  and 
majesty  in  the  open  air  and  light  of  the  park.  It  more 
nearly  approaches  the  English  oak  in  appearance  than  any 
other  American  species. 

Rock  Chestnut  oak.  (Q.  Prinus  Monticola.)  This  is 
one  of  the  most  ornamental  of  our  oaks,  and  is  found  in 
considerable  abundance  in  the  middle  states.     It  has  the 


M8  LANDSCAPE    GARDENING. 

peculiar  advantage  of  growing  well  on  the  most  barren  and 
rocky  soils,  and  can  therefore  be  advantageously  employed 
by  the  landscape  gardener,  when  a  steep,  dry,  rocky  bank  is 
to  be  covered  with  trees.  In  deep,  mellow  soil,  its  growth 
is  wonderfully  vigorous,  and  it  rapidly  attains  a  height  of 
50  or  60  feet,  with  a  corresponding  diameter.  The  head 
is  rather  more  symmetrical  in  form  and  outline  than  most 
trees  of  this  genus,  and  the  stem,  in  free,  open  places,  shoots 
up  into  a  lofty  trunk.  The  leaves  are  five  or  six  inches 
long,  three  or  four  broad,  oval  and  uniformly  denticulated, 
with  the  teeth  more  regular  but  less  acute  than  the  Chest- 
nut white  oak.  When  beginning  to  open  in  the  spring 
they  are  covered  with  a  thick  down ;  but  when  fully  ex- 
panded they  are  perfectly  smooth  and  of  a  delicate  texture. 
Michaux. 

Chestnut  White  oak.  (Quercus  Prinus  palustris.) 
This  species  much  resembles  the  last,  but  differs  in 
having  longer  leaves,  which  are  obovate,  and  deeply 
toothed.  It  is  sparingly  found  in  the  northern  states,  and 
attains  its  greatest  altitude  in  the  south,  where  it  is  often 
seen  90  feet  in  height.  Though  generally  found  in  the 
neighborhood  of  swamps  and  low  grounds,  it  grows  with 
wonderful  rapidity  in  a  good,  moderately  dry  soil,  and 
from  the  beauty  of  its  fine  spreading  head,  and  the 
quickness  of  its  growth,  is  highly  deserving  of  introduction 
into  our  plantations. 

The  Yellow  oak.  (Q.  Prinus  acuminata)  The 
Yellow  oak  may  be  found  scattered  through  our  woods 
over  nearly  the  whole  of  the  Union.  Its  leaves  are 
lanceolate,  and  regularly  toothed,  light  green  above,  and 
whitish  beneath ;  the  acorns  small.  It  forms  a  stately 
tree,  70  feet  high  ;  and  the  branches  are  more  upright  in 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL     TREES.  149 

Iheir  growth,  and  more  clustering,  as  it  were,  round  the 
central  trunk,  than  other  species.  The  beauty  of  its  long 
pointed  leaves,  and  their  peculiar  mode  of  growth, 
recommend  it  to  mingle  with  other  trees,  to  which  it 
will  add  variety. 

The  Pin  oak.  (Q.  palustris)  The  Pin  oak  forms  a 
tree  in  moist  situations,  varying  in  height  from  60  to  80 
feet.  The  great  number  of  small  branches  intermingleu 
with  the  large  ones,  have  given  rise  to  the  name  of  this 
variety.  It  is  a  hardy,  free  growing  species,  particularly 
upon  moist  soils.  Loudon  considers  it,  from  its  "  far 
extending,  drooping  branches,  and  light  and  elegant 
foliage,"  among  the  most  graceful  of  oaks.  It  is  well 
adapted  to  small  groups,  and  is  one  of  the  most  thrifty 
growing  and  easily  obtained  of  all  our  northern  oaks. 

The  Willow  oak.  (Q.  Phellos)  This  remarkable 
species  of  oak  may  be  recognised  at  once  by  its  narrow, 
entire  leaves,  shaped  almost  like  those  of  the  willow,  and 
about  the  same  size,  though  thicker  in  texture.  It  is  not 
found  wild  north  of  the  barrens  of  New  Jersey,  where  it 
grows  plentifully,  but  thrives  well  in  cultivation  much 
further  north.  The  stem  of  this  tree  is  remarkably  smooth 
in  every  stage  of  its  growth.  It  is  so  different  in 
appearance  and  character  from  the  other  species  of  this 
genus,  that  in  plantations  it  would  never  be  recognised  by 
a  person  not  conversant  with  oaks,  as  one  of  the  family. 
It  deserves  to  be  introduced  into  landscapes  for  its 
singularity  as  an  oak,  and  its  lightness  and  elegance  of 
foliage  individually. 

The  Mossy-cup  oak.  (Q.  olivcBformh )  This  is  so 
called  because  the  scales  of  the  cups  terminate  in  a  long, 
moss-like  fringe,  nearly  covering  the  acorn.     It  is  quite  a 


150  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

rare  species,  being  only  found  on  the  upper  banks  of  the 
Hudson,  and  on  the  Genesee  river.  The  foliage  is  fine, 
large,  and  deeply  cut,  and  the  lower  branches  of  the  tree 
droop  in  a  beautiful  manner  when  it  has  attained  some 
considerable  size.  Quercus  macrocarya,  the  Over-cup 
White  oak,  is  another  beautiful  kind  found  in  the  westerr 
states,  which  a  good  deal  resembles  the  Mossy-cup  oak  in 
the  acorn.  The  foliage,  however,  is  uncommonly  fine, 
being  the  largest  in  size  of  any  American  species ;  fifteen 
inches  long,  and  eight  broad.  It  is  a  noble  tree,  with  fine 
deep  green  foliage  ;  and  the  growth  of  a  specimen  planted 
in  our  grounds  has  been  remarkably  vigorous. 

Scarlet  oak.  {Quercus  coccinea.)  A  native  of  the 
middle  states ;  a  noble  tree,  often  eighty  feet  high.  The 
leaves,  borne  on  long  petioles,  are  a  bright  lively  green  on 
both  surfaces,  with  four  deep  cuts  on  each  side,  widest  at 
the  bottom.  The  great  and  peculiar  beauty  of  this  tree, 
we  conceive  to  be  its  property  of  assuming  a  deep  scarlet 
tint  in  autumn.  At  that  period  it  may,  at  a  great 
distance,  be  distinguished  from  all  other  oaks,  and  indeed 
from  every  other  forest  tree.  It  is  highly  worthy  of  a 
place  in  every  plantation. 

The  Live  oak.  {Quercus  virens.)  This  fine  species 
will  not  thrive  north  of  Virginia.  Its  imperishable  timber 
is  the  most  valuable  in  our  forests  ;  and,  at  the  south,  it  is 
a  fine  park  tree,  when  cultivated,  growing  about  40  feet 
nigh,  with,  however,  a  rather  wide  and  low  head.  The 
thick  oval  leaves  are  evergreen,  and  it  is  much  to  be 
regretted  that  this  noble  tree  will  not  bear  our  northern 
winters. 

The  English  Royal  oak.  {Q.  rohur.)  This  is  the  great 
representative  of  the  family  in  Europe,  and  is  one  of  the 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  151 

most  magnificent  of  the  genus,  growing  often  in  the  fina 
old  woods  and  parks  of  England,  to  eighty  and  one 
hundred  feet  in  height.  The  branches  spread  over  a 
great  surface.  "The  leaves  are  petiolated,  smooth,  and 
of  a  uniform  color  on  both  sides,  enlarged  towards  the 
summit,  and  very  coarsely  toothed."  As  a  single  tree  foi 
park  scenery,  this  equals  any  American  species  in  majesty 
of  form,  though  it  is  deficient  in  individual  beauty  of 
fohage  to  some  of  our  oaks.  It  is  to  be  found  for  sale  in 
our  nurseries,  and  we  hope  will  become  well  known 
among  us.  The  timber  is  closer  grained  and  more 
durable,  though  less  elastic  than  the  best  American  oak  , 
and  Michaux,  in  his  Sylva,  recommends  its  introduction 
into  this  country  largely,  on  these  accounts. 

The  Turkey  oak.  (Q.  Cerris.)  There  are  two 
beautiful  hybrid  varieties  of  this  species,  which  have 
been  raised  in  England  by  Messrs.  Lucombe  and  Fulham, 
which  we  hope  will  yet  be  found  in  our  ornamental 
plantations.  They  are  partially  evergreen  in  winter, 
remarkably  luxuriant  in  their  growth,  attaining  a  height 
of  seventy  or  eighty  feet,  and  elegant  in  foliage  and 
outline.  The  Lucombe  and  Fulham  oaks  grow  from  one 
to  five  feet  in  a  season  ;  the  trees  assume  a  beautiful 
pyramidal  shape,  and  as  they  retain  their  fine  glossy 
leaves  till  May,  they  would  form  a  fine  contrast  to  other 
deciduous  trees. 

We  might  here  enumerate  a  great  number  of  other  fine 
foreign  oaks ;  among  which  the  most  interesting  are  the 
Holly  or  Holm  oak  {Quercus  Ilex) ;  and  the  Cork  oak 
(Q.  Suber),  of  the  south  of  France,  which  produces  the 
cork  of  commerce  (both  rather  too  tender  for  the  north) ; 
the  Kermes  oak  (Q.  coccifera),  from  which  a  scarlet  dye 


152  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

is  obtained  ;  and  tiie  Italian  Esculent  oak  (Q.  Esculus), 
with  sweet  nutritious  acorns.  Those,  however,  who 
wish  to  investigate  them,  will  pursue  this  subject  further 
in  European  works ;  while  that  splendid  treatise  on  our 
forest  trees,  the  North  American  Sylva  of  Michaux,  will 
be  found  to  give  full  and  accurate  descriptions  of  all  our 
numerous  indigenous  varieties,  of  which  many  are 
peculiar  to  the  southern  states. 

The  oak  flourishes  best  on  a  strong  loamy  soil,  rather 
moist  than  dry.  Here  at  least  the  growth  is  most  rapid, 
although,  for  timber,  the  wood  is  generally  not  so  sound 
on  a  moist  soil  as  a  dry  one,  and  the  tree  goes  to  decay 
more  rapidly.  Among  the  American  kinds,  however, 
some  may  be  found  adapted  to  every  soil  and  situation, 
though  those  species  which  grow  on  upland  soils,  in 
stony,  clayey,  or  loamy  bottoms,  attain  the  greatest  size 
and  longevity.  When  immense  trees  are  desired,  the  oak 
should  either  be  transplanted  very  young,  or,  which  is 
preferable,  raised  from  the  acorn  sown  where  it  is  finally 
to  remain.  This  is  necessary  on  account  of  the  very 
large  tap  roots  of  this  genus  of  trees,  which  are  either 
entirely  destroyed  or  greatly  injured  by  removal.  Trans- 
planting this  genus  of  trees  should  be  performed  either 
early  in  autumn,  as  soon  as  the  leaves  fall  or  become 
brown,  or  in  spring  before  the  abundant  rains  commence. 


The  Elm.     Ulmus. 

Nat.  Ord.  Ulmaceae.  Lin.  Syst.  Pentandria,  Digynia. 

We   have   ascribed   to   the    oak  the  character  of  pre- 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  153 

sminent  dignity  and  majesty  among  the  trees  of  the  forest. 
Let  us  now  claim  for  the  elm  the  epithets  graceful  and 
elegant.  This  tree  is  one  of  the  noblest  in  the  size  c  f  its 
trunk,  while  the  branches  are  comparatively  tapering  and 
slender,  forming  themselves,  in  most  of  the  species,  into 
long  ana  graceful  curves.  The  flowers  are  of  a  chocolate 
or  purple  color,  and  appear  in  the  month  of  April,  before 
the  leaves.  The  latter  are  light  and  airy,  of  a  pleasing, 
light  green  in  the  spring,  growing  darker,  however,  as  the 
season  advances.  The  elm  is  one  of  the  most  common 
trees  in  both  continents,  and  has  been  well  known  for  its 
beauty  and  usefulness  since  a  remote  period.  In  the 
south  of  Europe,  particularly  in  Lombardy,  elm  trees  are 
planted  in  vineyards,  and  the  vines  are  trained  in  festoons 
from  tree  to  tree  in  the  most  picturesque  manner.  Tasso 
alludes  to  this  in  the  following  stanza : 


'  Corne  olino,  a  cui  la  painpinosa  pianta 
Cupida  s'avviticchi  e  si  marite  ; 
Se  ferro  il  tronca,  o  f'ulmine  lo  schiaiita 
Trae  seco  a  terra  la  compagna  vite." 

Gerusalemme  Liherata,  2.  326. 


It  is  one  of  the  most  common  trees  for  public  walks 
and  avenues,  along  the  highways  in  France  and  Germany, 
growing  with  great  rapidity,  and  soon  forming  a  widely 
extended  shade.  In  Europe,  the  elm  is  much  used  for 
keels  ia  ship-building,  and  is  remarkably  durable  in  water ; 
more  extensive  use  is  made  of  it  there  than  of  the 
American  kinds  in  this  country,  though  the  wood  of  the 
Red  American  elm  is  more  valuable  than  any  other  in 
.he  United  States  for  the  blocks  used  in  ship  rigging. 

For  its  graceful   beauty   the   elm   i»    entitled   to   high 


154  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

regard.  Standing  alone  as  a  single  tree,  or  in  a  group 
of  at  most  three  or  four  in  number,  it  developes  itself  in 
all  its  perfection.  The  White  American  elm  we  consider 
the  most  beautiful  of  the  family,  and  to  this  we  more 
particularly  allude.  In  such  situations  as  we  have  just 
mentioned,  this  tree  developes  its  fine  ample  form  in  the 
most  perfect  manner.  Its  branches  first  spring  up  em- 
bracing the  centre,  then  bend  off  in  finely  diverging  lines, 
until  in  old  trees  they  often  sweep  the  ground  with  their 
loose  pendent  foliage.  With  all  this  lightness  and  peculiar 
gracefulness  of  form,  it  is  by  no  means  a  meagre  looking 
tree  in  the  body  of  its  foliage,  as  its  thick  tufted  masses 
of  leaves  reflect  the  sun  and  embosom  the  shadows  as 
finely  as  almost  any  other  tree,  the  oak  excepted.  We 
consider  it  peculiarly  adapted  for  planting,  in  scenes 
where  the  expression  of  elegant  or  classical  beauty  is 
desired.  In  autumn  the  foliage  assumes  a  lively  yellow 
tint,  contrasting  well  with  the  richer  and  more  glowing 
colors  of  our  native  woods.  Even  in  winter  it  is  a 
pleasing  object,  from  the  minute  division  of  its  spray  and 
the  graceful  droop  of  its  branches.  It  is  one  of  the  most 
generally  esteemed  of  our  native  trees  for  ornamental 
purposes,  and  is  as  great  a  favorite  here  as  in  Europe  for 
planting  in  public  squares  and  along  the  highways. 
Beautiful  specimens  may  be  seen  in  Cambridge,  Mass., 
and  very  fine  avenues  of  this  tree  are  growing  with  great 
luxuriance  in  and  about  New  Haven.*  The  charming 
villages  of  New  England,  among  which  Northampton 
and  Springfield  are  pre-eminent,  borrow  from  the  superb 
and  wonderfully  luxuriant  elms  which  decorate  their  fine 

•  The  great  elni  of  Boston  Common  is  22  feet  in  circumference. 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  155 

streets  and  avenues,  the  greater  portion  of  their  pecuUai 
loveliness.  The  elm  should  not  be  chosen  where  large 
groups  and  masses  are  required,  as  the  similarity  of  its 
form  in  different  individuals  might  then  create  a  mo- 
notony ;  but  as  we  have  before  observed,  it  is  peculiarly 
well  calculated  for  small  groups,  or  as  a  single  object. 
The  roughness  of  the  bark,  contrasting  with  the  lightness 
of  its  foliage  and  the  easy  sweep  of  its  branches,  adds 
much  also  to  its  effect  as  a  whole. 

We  shall  briefly  describe  the  principal  species  of  the 
elm. 

The  American  White  elm.  {Ulmus  Ajnericana.)  This 
is  the  best  known  and  most  generally  distributed  of  our 
native  species,  growing  in  greater  or  less  profusion  over 
the  whole  of  the  country  included  between  Lower  Canada 
and  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  It  often  reaches  80  feet  in 
height  in  fine  soils,  with  a  diameter  of  4  or  5  feet.  The 
leaves  are  alternate,  3  or  4  inches  long,  unequal  in  size 
at  the  base,  borne  on  petioles  half  an  inch  to  an  inch  in 
'ength,  oval,  acuminate,  and  doubly  denticulated.  The 
jeeds  are  contained  in  a  flat,  oval,  winged  seed-vessel, 
fringed  with  small  hairs  on  the  margin.  The  flowers, 
of  a  dull  purple  color,  are  borne  in  small  bunches  on 
short  footstalks  at  the  end  of  the  branches,  and  appear 
very  early  in  the  spring.  This  tree  prefers  a  deep  rich 
soil,  and  grows  with  greater  luxuriance  if  it  be  rather 
moist,  often  reaching  in  such  situations  an  altitude  of 
nearly  100  feet.  It  is  found  in  the  greatest  perfection  in 
the  alluvial  soils  of  the  fertile  valleys  of  the  Connecticut, 
the  Mississippi,  and  the  Ohio  rivers. 

The   Red   or   Slippery   elm.      (U.  fulva.)     A   tree  of 


156  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

lower  size  than  the  White  elm,  attaining  generally  onl^ 
40  or  50  feet.  According  to  Michaux,  it  may  be 
distinguished  from  the  latter  even  in  winter,  by  its  buds, 
which  are  larger  and  rounder,  and  which  are  covered  a 
fortnight  before  their  development  with  a  russet  down 
The  leaves  are  larger,  rougher,  and  thicker  than  those 
of  the  White  elm  ;  the  seed-vessels  larger,  destitute  of 
fringe ;  the  stamens  short,  and  of  a  pale  rose  color.  This 
tree  bears  a  strong  likeness  to  the  Dutch  elm,  and  the 
bark  abounds  in  mucilage,  whence  the  name  of  Slippery 
elm.  The  branches  are  less  drooping  than  those  of  the 
White  elm. 

The  Wahoo  elm  (U.  alata)  is  not  found  north  of 
Virginia.  It  may  at  once  be  known  in  every  stage  of 
its  growth  by  the  fungous  cork-like  substance  which 
lines  the  branches  on  both  sides.  It  is  a  very  singular 
and  curious  tree,  of  moderate  stature,  and  grows  rapidly 
and  well  when  cultivated  in  the  northern  states. 

The  common  European  elm.  (U.  campestris.)  This 
is  the  most  commonly  cultivated  forest  tree  in  Europe, 
next  to  the  oak.  It  is  a  more  upright  growing  tree  than 
the  White  elm,  though  resembling  it  in  the  easy 
disposition  and  delicacy  of  its  branches.  The  flowers, 
of  a  purple  color,  are  produced  in  round  bunches  close 
to  the  stem.  The  leaves  are  rough,  doubly  serrated, 
and  much  more  finely  cut  than  those  of  our  elms.  It 
is  a  fine  tree,  60  or  70  feet  high,  growing  with  rapidity, 
and  is  easily  cultivated.  The  timber  is  more  valuable 
than  the  American  sort,  though  the  tree  is  inferior  to 
the  White  elm  in  beauty.  There  are  some  dozen  or 
more  fine  varieties  of  this  species  cultivated  in  the 
English  nurseries,  among  which  the  most  remarkable  are 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  15*3 

the  Twisted  elm  (U.  c.  tortuosa),  the  trunk  of  which  is 
singularly  marked  with  hollows  and  protuberances,  and 
the  grain  of  the  wood  curiously  twisted  together  :  the 
Kidbrook  elm  (Z7.  c.  virens),  which  is  a  sub-evergreen  : 
the  Gold  and  Silver  striped  elms,  with  variegated  leaves, 
and  the  Narrow-leaved  elm  (Z7.  c.  viminalis),  which 
resembles  the  birch  :  the  Cork-barked  elm  {U.c.  suherosa), 
the  young  branches  of  which  are  covered  with  cork,  etc. 

The  latter  is  one  of  the  hardiest  and  most  vigorous 
of  all  ornamental  trees  in  this  climate.  It  thrives  in 
almost  every  soil,  and  its  rich,  dark  foliage,  which  hangs 
late  in  autumn,  and  its  somewhat  picturesque  form, 
should  recommend  it  to  every  planter. 

The  Scotch  or  Wych  elm.  (U.  inontana)  This  is  a 
tree  of  lower  stature  than  the  common  European  elm, 
its  average  height  being  about  40  feet.  The  leaves  are 
broad,  rough,  pointed,  and  the  branches  extend  more 
horizontally,  drooping  at  the  extremities.  The  bark  on 
the  branches  is  comparatively  smooth.  It  is  a  grand  tree, 
"  the  head  is  so  finely  massed  and  yet  so  well  broken  as 
to  render  it  one  of  the  noblest  of  park  trees ;  and  when 
it  grows  wild  amid  the  rocky  scenery  of  its  native 
Scotland,  there  is  no  tree  which  assumes  so  great  or  so 
pleasing  a  variety  of  character."*  In  general  appearance, 
the  Scotch  elm  considerably  resembles  our  White  elm, 
and  it  is  a  very  rapid  grower.  Its  most  ornamental 
varieties  are  the  Spiry-topped  elm  {U.  m.  fastigiata), 
with  singularly  twisted  leaves,  and  a  very  upright  growth : 
the  weeping  Scotch  elm  (U.  m.  pendula),  a  very 
remarkable  variety,   the  branches  of  which   droop   in   a 

»  Sir  Tho3.  Lauder,  in  Gilpin,  1.  91. 


158  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

fan-like  manner  :  and  the  Smooth-leaved  Scotch  elm  (tJ 
m.  glabra). 

There  is  scarcely  any  soil  to  which  some  of  the 
different  elms  are  not  adapted.  The  European  species 
prefer  a  deep,  dry  soil ;  the  Scotch  or  Wych  elm  will 
thrive  well  even  in  very  rocky  places  ;  and  the  White 
elm  grows  readily  in  all  soils,  but  most  luxuriantly  in 
moist  places.  All  the  species  attain  their  maximum  size 
when  planted  in  a  deep  loam,  rather  moist  than  dry. 
They  bear  transplanting  remarkably  well,  suffering  but 
little  even  from  the  mistaken  practice  of  those  persons 
who  reduce  them  in  transplanting  to  the  condition  of 
bare  poles,  as  they  shoot  out  a  new  crop  of  branches, 
and  soon  become  beautiful  young  trees  in  spite  of  the 
mal-treatment.  As  the  elm  scarcely  produces  a  tap 
root,  even  large  trees  may  be  removed,  when  the 
operation  is  skilfully  performed.  In  such  cases,  the 
recently-removed  tree  should  be  carefully  and  plentifully 
supplied  with  water  until  it  is  well  established  in  its 
new  situation.  The  elm  is  also  easily  propagated  by 
seed,  layers,  or,  in  some  species,  by  suckers  from  the 
root. 


The  Plane  or  Buttonwood  Tree.     Platanus. 

Nat.  Ord.    PlatanacesB.  Lin.  Syst.    Moncecia,  Polyandria. 

The  plane,  Platanus  derives  its  name  from  <XaTvg, 
broad,  on  account  of  the  broad,  umbrageous  nature  of  its 
branches.     It  is  a  well   known  tree   of  the  very  largest 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  159 

size,  common  to  both  hemispheres,  and  greatly  prized 
for  the  fine  shade  afforded  by  its  spreading  head,  in 
the  warmer  parts  of  Europe  and  Asia.  No  tree  was  in 
greater  esteem  with  the  ancients  for  this  purpose  ;  and 
we  are  told  that  the  Academic  groves,  the  neighborhood 
of  the  public  schools,  and  all  those  favorite  avenues  where 
the  Grecian  philosophers  were  accustomed  to  resort,  were 
planted  with  these  trees  ;  and  beneath  their  shade 
Aristotle,  Plato,  and  Socrates,  delivered  the  choicest 
wisdom  and  eloquence  of  those  classic  days.  The 
Eastern  plane  {Platanus  orientalis)  was  first  brought 
to  the  Roman  provinces  from  Persia,  and  so  highly  was 
it  esteemed  that  according  to  Pliny,  the  Morini  paid  a 
tribute  to  Rome  for  the  privilege  of  enjoying  its  shade. 
To  that  author  we  are  also  indebted  for  the  history  of  the 
great  plane  tree  that  grew  in  the  province  of  Lycia, 
which  was  of  so  huge  a  size,  that  the  governor  of  the 
province,  Licinius  Mutianus,  together  with  eighteen  of 
his  retinue,  feasted  in  the  hollow  of  its  trunk. 

In  the  United  States,  the  plane  is  not  generally  found 
growing  in  great  quantities  in  any  one  place,  but  is  more 
or  less  scattered  over  the  whole  country.  In  deep,  moist, 
alluvial  soils,  it  attains  a  size  scarcely,  if  at  all,  inferior  to 
that  of  the  huge  trees  of  the  eastern  continent ;  forming 
at  least,  in  the  body  of  its  trunk,  a  larger  circumference 
than  any  other  of  our  native  trees.  The  younger 
Michaux  {Sylva,  1,  325)  measured  a  tree  near  Marietta, 
Ohio,  which  at  four  feet  from  the  ground  was  found  to  be 
forty-seven  feet  in  circumference  ;  and  a  specimen  has 
lately  been  cut  on  the  banks  of  the  Genesee  river,  of  such 
enormous  size,  that  a  section  of  the  trunk  was  hollowed 
out  and  furnished  as  a  small  room,  capable  of  containing 


IGO  LANDSCAPE    GARDEIVINC;. 

fourteen  persons.*  On  the  margins  of  the  great  western 
rivers  it  sometimes  rises  up  seventy  feet,  and  then  expands 
into  a  fine,  lofty  head,  surpassing  in  grandeur  all  its 
neighbors  of  the  forest.  The  large  branches  of  the  plane 
shoot  out  in  a  horizontal  direction ;  the  trunk  generally 
ascending  in  a  regular,  stately,  and  uninterrupted  manner 
The  blossoms  are  small  greenish  balls  appearing  in  spring, 
and  the  fertile  ones  grow  to  an  inch  in  diameter,  assuming 
a  deep  brownish  color,  and  hang  upon  the  tree  during  the 
whole  winter.  A  striking  and  peculiar  characteristic  of 
the  plane,  is  its  property  of  throwing  ofi'  or  shedding 
continually  the  other  coating  of  bark  here  and  there  in 
patches.  Professor  Lindley  {Introduction  to  the  Natural 
System,  2d  ed.  187)  says  this  is  owing  to  its  deficiencv 
in  the  expansive  power  of  the  fibre  common  to  the  bark 
of  other  trees,  or,  in  other  words,  to  the  rigidity  of  its 
tissue  :  being  therefore  incapable  of  stretching  with  the 
growth  of  the  tree,  it  bursts  open  on  different  parts  of  the 
trunk,  and  is  cast  off.  This  gives  the  trunk  quite  a  lively 
and  picturesque  look,  extending  more  or  less  even  to  the 
extremity  of  the  branches  ;  and  makes  this  tree  quite 
conspicuous  in  winter.  Bryant,  in  his  address  to  Green 
River,  says  : 

"  Clear  are  tlie  depths  where  its  eddies  play, 
And  dimples  deepen  and  whirl  away. 
And  the  plane  tree's  speckled  arms  o'ershoot 
The  swifter  current  tliat  mines  its  root." 

The   great  merit    of  the    plane,  or    button  wood,    is    its 

«  A  buttonwood  on  the  Montezuma  estate,  Jefferson,  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y., 
is  forty-seven  and  a  half  feet  in  circumference ;  and  the  diameter  of  tlw 
hollow  two  feet  from  the  ground,  is  fifteen  feet.  (iV.  Y.  Med.  Repositw^, 
IV.  427.; 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  161 

extreme  vigor  and  luxuriance  of  growth.  In  a  good  soil  it 
will  readily  reach  a  height  of  thirty-five  or  forty  feet  in  ten 
years.  It  is  easily  transplanted ;  and  in  new  residences, 
bare  of  trees,  where  an  effect  is  desired  speedily,  we  know 
of  nothing  better  adapted  quickly  to  produce  abundance 
of  foliage,  shelter,  and  shade.  When  the  requisite  foliage 
is  obtained,  and  other  trees  of  slower  growth  have  reached 
a  proper  size,  the  former  may  be  thinned  out.  As  the 
plane  tree  grows  to  the  largest  size,  it  is  only  proper  for 
situations  where  there  is  considerable  ground,  and  where 
it  can  without  inconvenience  to  its  fellows  have  ample 
room  for  its  full  development.  Then  soaring  up,  and 
extending  its  wide-spread  branches  on  every  side,  it  is 
certainly  a  very  majestic  tree.  The  color  of  the  foliage 
is  of  a  paler  green  than  is  usual  in  forest  trees ;  and 
although  of  large  size,  is  easily  wafted  to  and  fro  by  the 
wind,  thereby  producing  an  agreeable  diversity  of  light 
pleasing  to  the  eye  in  summer.  In  winter  the  branches 
are  beautifully  hung,  even  to  their  furthest  ends,  with  the 
numerous  round  russet-balls,  or  seed-vessels,  each  sus- 
pended by  a  slender  cord,  and  swinging  about  in  the  air. 
The  outline  of  the  head  is  pleasingly  irregular,  and  its 
foliage  against  a  sky  outline  is  bold  and  picturesque.  It 
is  not  a  tree  to  be  planted  in  thick  groves  by  itself,  but 
to  stand  alone  and  detached,  or  in  a  group  with  two  or 
three.  In  avenues  it  is  often  happily  employed,  and 
produces  a  grand  effect.  It  also  grows  with  great  vigor 
in  close  cities,  as  some  superb  specimens  in  the  square 
of  the  State-house,  Pennsylvania  Hospital,  and  other 
places  in  Philadelphia  fully  attest. 

There  is  but  a  trifling  difference  in  general  effect  betweea 

11 


162  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

our  plane  or  buttonwood  and  the  Oriental  plane.  For  tlie 
purposes  of  shade  and  shelter,  the  American  is  the  finest, 
as  its  foliage  is  the  longest  and  broadest.  The  Oriental 
plane  (Platanus  orientalis)  has  the  leaves  lobed  like  our 
native  kind  (P.  occidentalis),  but  the  segments  are  much 
more  deeply  cut ;  the  footstalks  of  its  leaves  are  green, 
while  those  of  the  American  are  of  a  reddish  hue,  and  the 
fruit  or  ball  is  much  smaller  and  rougher  on  the  outer  sur- 
face when  fully  grown.  Both  species  are  common  in  the 
nurseries,  and  are  worthy  the  attention  of  the  planter  ;  the 
Oriental,  as  well  for  the  interesting  associations  connected 
with  it,  being  the  favorite  shade-tree  of  the  east,  etc.,  as  for 
its  intrinsic  merits  as  a  lofty  and  majestic  tree. 

Two  of  the  varieties  of  P.  occidentalis  are  sometimes  cul- 
tivated, the  chief  of  which  is  the  Maple-leaved  plane  (P.  O. 
acerifolia). 


The  Ash  Tree.     Fraxinus. 
Nat.  Ord.     Oleaccce.  Lin.  Syst.     Polygamia,  Dicecia. 

The  name  of  the  ash,  one  of  the  finest  and  most  useful 
of  forest  trees,  is  probably  derived  from  the  Celtic  asc, 
a  pike — as  its  wood  was  formerly  in  common  use  for 
spears  and  other  weapons.  Homer  informs  us  that  Achilles 
was  slain  with  an  ashen  spear.  In  modern  times  the  wood 
is  in  universal  use  for  the  various  implements  of  husbandry, 
for  the  different  purposes  of  the  wheelwright  and  carriage- 
maker,  and  in  short  for  all  purposes  where  great  strength 
and  elasticity  are  required ;  for  in  these  qualities  the  a^h  is 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  163 

Becond  to  no  tree  in  the  forest,  the  hickory  alone  excepted. 
The  ash  is  a  large  and  lofty  tree,  growing,  when  surrounded 
by  other  trees,  sixty  or  seventy  feet  high,  and  three  or  more 
in  diameter.  When  exposed  on  all  sides  it  forms  a  beau- 
tiful, round,  compact  head  of  loose,  pinnated,  light  green 
foliage,  and  is  one  of  the  most  vigorous  growers  among  the 
hard-wooded  trees.  The  American  species  of  ash  are 
found  in  the  greatest  luxuriance  and  beauty  on  the  banks 
and  margins  of  rivers  where  the  soil  is  partially  dry,  yet 
where  the  roots  can  easily  penetrate  down  to  the  moisture. 
The  European  ash  is  remarkable  for  its  hardy  nature,  being 
often  found  in  great  vigor  on  steep  rocky  hills,  and  amid 
crevices  where  most  other  trees  flourish  badly.  Southey 
alludes  to  this  in  the  following  lines  : — 

"  Grey  as  the  stone  to  which  it  clung,  half  root. 
Half  trunk,  the  young  ash  rises  from  the  rock." 

As  the  ash  grows  strongly,  and  the  roots,  which  extend 
to  a  great  distance,  ramify  near  the  surface,  it  exhausts  the 
soil  underneath  and  around  it  to  an  astonishing  degree. 
For  this  reason  the  grass  is  generally  seen  in  a  very  meagre 
and  starved  condition  in  a  lawn  where  the  ash  tree  abounds. 
Here  and  there  a  single  tree  of  the  ash  will  have  an  excel- 
lent effect,  seen  from  the  windows  of  the  house  ;  but  we 
would  chiefly  employ  it  for  the  grand  masses,  and  to  inter- 
mingle with  other  large  groups  of  trees  in  an  extensive 
plantation.  When  the  ash  is  young  it  forms  a  well  rounded 
head ;  but  wheti.,  older  the  lower  branches  bend  towards 
the  ground,  and  tbtan  slightly  turju^up  in  a  very  graceful 
manner.  We  take  pleasure  in  quoting  what  that  great 
lover  and  accurate  delineator  of  forest  beauties,  Mr.  Gilpin, 
Bays  of  the  ash.     "  The  ash  generally  carries  its  principal 


164  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

Stem  higher  than  the  oak,  and  rises  in  an  easy  flowing  line. 
But  its  chief  beauty  consists  in  the  lightness  of  its  whole 
appearance.  Its  branches  at  first  keep  close  to  the  trunk 
I  and  form  acute  angles  with  it ;  but  as  they  begin  to  lengthen 
they  generally  take  an  easy  sweep,  and  the  looseness  of  the 
leaves  corresponding  with  the  lightness  of  the  spray,  the 
whole  forms  an  elegant  depending  foliage.  Nothing  can 
have  a  better  effect  than  an  old  ash  hanging  from  the  cornei 
of  a  wood,  and  bringing  off  the  heaviness  of  the  othei 
foliage  with  its  loose  pendent  branches." — (Forest  Scenery, 
p.  82.) 

The  highest  and  most  characteristic  beauty  of  the  Ame- 
rican White  ash  (and  we  consider  it  the  finest  of  all  the 
species)  is  the  coloring  which  its  leaves  put  on  in  autumn. 
Gilpin  complains  that  the  leaf  of  the  European  ash  "  decays 
in  a  dark,  muddy,  unpleasing  tint."  Not  so  the  White  ash. 
In  an  American  wood,  such  as  often  lines  and  overhangs 
the  banks  of  the  Hudson,  the  Connecticut,  and  many  of 
our  noble  northern  streams,  the  ash  assumes  peculiar  beauty 
in  autumn,  when  it  can  often  be  distinguished  from  the 
surrounding  trees  for  four  or  five  miles,  by  the  peculiar  and 
beautiful  deep  brownish  purple  of  its  fine  mass  of  foliage. 
This  color,  though  not  lively,  is  so  full  and  rich  as  to  pro- 
duce the  most  pleasing  harmony  with  the  bright  yellows 
and  reds  of  the  other  deciduous  trees,  and  the  deep  green 
of  the  pines  and  cedars. 

The  ash,  unlike  the  elm,  starts  into  vegetation  late  in  the 
spring,  which  is  an  objection  to  planting  it  in  the  immediate 
vicinity  of  the  house.  In  winter  the  long  greyish  white  or 
ash-colored  branches  are  pleasing  in  tint,  compared  witn 
those  of  other  deciduous  treet 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  165 

The  White  ash.  {Fraxinus  Americana)  This  species, 
according  to  Michaux,  is  common  to  the  colder  parts  of  the 
Union,  and  is  most  abundant  north  of  the  Hudson.  It 
owes  its  name  to  the  Hght  color  of  the  bark,  which  on  large 
stocks  is  deeply  furrowed,  and  divided  into  squares  of  one 
to  three  inches  in  diameter.  The  trunk  is  perfectly  straight, 
and  in  close  woods  is  often  undivided  to  the  height  of  more 
than  40  feet.  The  leaves  are  composed  of  three  or  four 
pairs  of  leaflets,  terminated  by  an  odd  one ;  the  whole 
twelve  or  fourteen  inches  long.  Early  in  spring  they  are 
covered  with  a  light  down  which  disappears  as  summer 
advances,  when  they  become  quite  smooth,  of  a  Hght  green 
color  above  and  whitish  beneath.  The  foliage,  as  well  as 
the  timber  of  our  White  ash,  is  finer  than  that  of  the  com- 
mon European  ash,  and  the  tree  is  much  prized  in  France 
and  Germany. 

The  Black  ash  {F.  samhucifolia),  sometimes  called  the 
Water  ash,  requires  a  moist  soil  to  thrive  well,  and  is  seen 
in  the  greatest  perfection  on  the  borders  of  swamps.  Its 
buds  are  of  a  deep  blue  ;  the  young  shoots  of  a  bright  green, 
sprinkled  with  dots  of  the  same  color,  which  disappear  as 
the  season  advances.  It  may  readily  be  distinguished  from 
the  White  ash  by  its  bark,  which  is  of  a  duller  hue  and  less 
deeply  furrowed.  The  Black  ash  is  altogether  a  tree  of 
less  stature  than  the  preceding. 

The  other  native  sorts  are  the  Red  ash  {F.  tomentosa), 
with  the  bark  of  a  deep  brown  tint,  found  in  Pennsylvania : 
the  Green  ash  (F.  viridis),  which  also  grows  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  is  remarkable  for  the  brilliant  green  of  both  sides 
of  the  leaves  :  the  Blue  ash  (F.  Quadrangulata) ,  a  beauti- 
ful tree  of  Kentucky,  70  feet  high,  distinguished  by  the  four 
opposite  membranes  of  a  greenish  color,  found  on  the  young 


166 


LANDSCAPE    GARDENING. 


shoots  :  and  the  Carolina  ash  (F.  platycarpa),  a  small  tree; 
i!^e  leaves  of  which  are  covered  with  a  thick  down  in 
spring. 

The  common  European  ash  {F.  excelsior)  strongly  re- 
sembles the  White  ash.  It  may,  however,  easily  be  known 
by  its  very  black  buds,  and  longer,  more  serrated  leaflets 
which  are  sessile,  instead  of  being  furnished  with  petioles 
like  the  White  ash.  This  fine  tree,  as  well  as  the  White 
ash,  grows  to  80  or  90  feet  in  height,  with  a  very  handsome 
head. 

The  Weeping  ash,  Fig.  36,  is  a  very  remarkable  variety 


'<^v. 


fFig.  36.    The  Weeping  Ash.] 


of  the  European  ash,  with  pendulous  or  weeping  branches  ; 
and  is  worthy  a  place  in  every  lawn  for  its  curious  ramifi- 
cation, as  well  as  for  its  general  beauty.  It  is  generally 
propagated  by  grafting  on  any  common  stock,  as  the  White 
ash,  7  or  8  feet  high,  when  the  branches  immediately  begin 
lo  turn  down  in  a  very  striking  and  pecuhar  manner.  The 
droop  of  the  branches  is  hardly  a  graceful  one,  yet  it  is  sc 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  161 

unique,  either  when  leafless,  or  in  full  foliage,  that  it  has 
long  been  one  of  our  greatest  favorites. 

The  Flowering  ash  (Fraxinus  Ornus*)  is  a  small  tree  of 
about  20  feet,  growing  plen' 'fully  in  the  south  of  Europe, 
and  is  also  found  sparingly  in  this  country.  Its  chief  beauty 
lies  in  the  beautiful  clusters  of  pale  or  greenish- white  flow- 
ers, borne  on  the  terminal  branches  in  May  and  June.  The 
foliage  and  general  appearance  of  the  tree  are  much  like 
those  of  the  common  ash ;  but  when  in  blossom  it  resembles 
a  good  deal  the  Carolina  Fringe  tree.  In  Italy  a  gummy 
substance  called  manna  exudes  from  the  bark,  which  is 
used  in  medicine. 


The  Lime  or  Linden  Tree.     Tilia. 
Nat.  Ord     Tilaceae.  Lin.  Syst.     Polyandria,  Monogynia. 

This  tree,  or  rather  the  American  sort,  is  well  known 
among  us  by  the  name  of  hasswood.  It  is  a  rapidly  grow- 
ing, handsome,  upright,  and  regularly  shaped  tree  ;  and  all 
the  species  are  much  esteemed,  both  in  Europe  and  this 
country,  for  planting  in  avenues  and  straight  lines,  wherever 
the  taste  is  in  favor  of  geometric  plantations.  In  Germany 
and  Holland  it  is  a  great  favorite  for  bordering  their  wide 
and  handsome  streets,  and  lining  their  long  and  straight 
canals.  "  In  Berlin,"'  Granville  says  in  his  travels,  "  there 
is  a  celebrated  street  called  ' unter  der  Linden'  (under  the 
lime  trees,)  a  gay  and  splendid  avenue,  planted  with  double 

*  Ornus  Europaus  of  Persoon,  and  the  European  botanists.  Beck  remarks 
that  the  American  kind  is  so  little  known,  that  it  is  difScult  to  determin* 
whether  it  is  a  different  species  or  only  a  mere  variety  of  the  European. 


l6S  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

rows  of  this  tree,  which  presented  to  my  view  a  scene  far 
more  beautiful  than  I  had  hitherto  witnessed  in  any  town, 
either  in  France,  Flanders,  or  Germany."  In  this  country 
the  European  lime  is  also  much  planted  in  our  cities ;  and 
some  avenues  of  it  may  be  seen  in  Philadelphia,  particu- 
larly before  the  State-house  in  Chestnut-street.  The  bass- 
wood  is  a  very  abundant  tree  in  some  parts  of  the  middle 
states,  and  is  seen  growing  in  great  profusion,  forming  thick 
woods  by  itself  in  the  interior  of  this  state.  With  us  the 
wood  is  considered  too  soft  to  be  of  much  value,  but  in 
England  it  was  formerly  in  high  repute  as  an  excellent 
material  for  the  use  of  carvers.  Some  very  beautiful 
specimens  of  old  carving  in  lime  wood  may  be  seen  in 
Windsor  Castle  and  Trinity  College.*  The  Russian  bass 
mats,  which  find  their  way  to  every  commercial  country, 
are  prepared  from  the  inner  bark  of  this  tree.  The  sap 
affords  a  sugar  like  the  maple,  although  in  less  quantities ; 
and  it  is  stated  in  the  Encyclopaedia  of  Plants  (p.  467)  "  that 
the  honey  made  from  the  flowers  of  the  lime  tree  is  reckoned 
the  finest  in  the  world.  Near  Knowno,  in  Lithuania,  there 
are  large  forests  chiefly  of  this  tree,  and  probably  a  distinct 
variety.  The  honey  produced  in  these  forests  sells  at  more 
than  double  the  price  of  any  other,  and  is  used  extensively 
in  medicine  and  for  liqueurs." 

*  The  art  of  carving  in  wood,  brought  to  such  perfection  by  Gibbons,  is  now, 
we  believe,  much  given  up  ;  therefore  the  lime  has  lost  a  most  important  branch 
of  its  usefulness.  Perhaps  the  finest  specimens  of  the  works  of  Gibbons  are  to 
be  seen  at  Chatsworth,  the  seat  of  the  Duke  of  Devonshire,  in  Derbyshire.  The 
execution  of  the  flowers,  fish,  game,  nets,  etc.,  on  the  panelling  of  the  walls  is 
quite  wonderful.  It  was  of  him  that  Walpole  justly  said, '  that  he  was  the  first 
artist  who  gave  to  wood  the  loo.«e  and  airy  lightness  of  flowers,  and  chained 
together  the  various  productions  of  the  elements,  with  a  free  disorder  natural  to 
each  species.'  The  lime  tree  is  still,  however,  u.sed  by  the  carver,  and  we  hopo 
that  the  art  of  wood  carving  may  gradually  be  restored." — Sir  T.  D.  Lauder 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  09 

The  leaves  of  the  Ume  are  large  and  handsome,  heart- 
shaped  in  form,  and  pleasing  in  color.  The  flowers,  which 
open  in  June,  hang  in  loose,  pale  yellow  cymes  or  clusters, 
are  quite  ornamental  and  very  fragrant. 

Sometimes 

A  scent  of  violets  and  blossoming  limes 
Loitered  around  us ;  then  of  honey  cells, 
Made  delicate  from  all  white  flower  bells. 

Keats. 

It  was  a  favorite  tree  in  the  ancient  style  of  gardening, 
as  it  bore  the  shears  well,  and  was  readily  dipt  into  all 
manner  of  curious  and  fantastic  shapes.  When  planted 
singly  on  a  lawn,  and  allowed  to  develope  itself  fully  on 
every  side,  the  linden  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  of  trees. 
Its  head  then  forms  a  fine  pyramid  of  verdure,  while  its 
lower  branches  sweep  the  ground  and  curve  upwards  in  the 
most  pleasing  form.  For  this  reason,  though  the  linden  is 
not  a  picturesque  tree,  it  is  very  happily  adapted  for  the 
graceful  landscape,  as  its  whole  contour  is  full,  flowing,  and 
agreeable.  The  pleasant  odor  of  its  flowers  is  an  addi- 
tional recommendation,  as  well  as  its  free  growth  and 
handsome  leaves.  Were  it  not  that  of  late  it  is  so  liable  to 
insects,  we  could  hai'dly  say  too  much  in  its  praise  as  a  fine 
ornament  for  streets  and  public  parks.  There,  its  regular 
form  corresponds  well  with  the  formality  of  the  architecture ; 
its  shade  aflfords  cool  and  pleasant  walks,  and  the  delightful 
odor  of  its  blossoms  is  doubly  grateful  in  the  confined  air 
of  the  city.  Our  basswood  has  rather  less  of  uniformity  in 
its  outline  than  the  European  lindens,  but  the  general  form 
is  the  same. 

The  American  lime,  or  basswood  {Tilla  A??iericana) ,  is 
he  most  robust  tree  of  the  genus,  and  produces   much 


170  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

more  vigorous  shoots  than  the  European  species.  It 
prefers  a  deep  and  fertile  soil,  where  the  trunk  grows 
remarkably  straight,  and  the  branches  form  a  handsome, 
well-rounded  summit.  The  flowers  are  borne  on  long 
stalks,  and  are  pendulous  from  the  branches.  The  leaves 
are  large,  heart-shaped,  finely  cut  on  the  margin,  and 
terminated  by  a  point  at  the  extremity.  The  seeds, 
which  ripen  in  autumn,  are  like  small  peas,  round  and 
greyish. 

The  white  lime  (T.  alba)  is  rare  in  the  eastern  states, 
but  common  in  Pennsylvania  and  the  states  south  of  it. 
It  is  not  a  tree  of  the  largest  size,  but  its  flowers  are  the 
finest  of  our  native  sorts.  The  leaves  are  also  very  large, 
deep  green  on  the  upper  surface,  and  white  below ;  they 
are  more  obliquely  heart-shaped  than  those  of  the  common 
basswood.  The  young  branches  are  covered  with  a 
smooth  silvery  bark.  This  species  is  very  common  on 
the  Susquehannah  river. 

The  Downy  lime  tree.  (T*.  pubescens.)  The  under 
side  of  the  leaves,  and  the  fruits  of  this  species,  are,  as  its 
name  denotes,  covered  with  a  short  down.  Its  flowers 
are  nearly  white;  the  serratures  of  the  leaves  wider 
apart,  and  the  base  of  the  leaf  obliquely  truncated.  It  is 
a  handsome  large  tree,  a  native  of  Florida,  though  hardy 
enough,  as  experience  proves,  to  bear  our  northern 
winters. 

The  European  lime  {T.  Europcea)  is  distinguished 
from  the  American  sorts,  by  its  smaller  and  more 
regularly  cordate  and  rounded  leaves.  Unlike  our 
native  species,  the  flowers  are  not  furnished  with  inner 
scale-like  petals.  The  foliage  is  rather  deeper  in  hue 
than  the  native  sorts,  and  the  branches  of  the  head  rathei 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  171 

more  regular  in  form  and  disposition.  Tnere  are  twc 
pretty  varieties  of  the  English  lime  which  are  well  known 
in  this  country,  viz.  the  Red-barked,  or  corallina  {var. 
rubra),  with  red  branches  ;  and  the  Golden-barked  {var. 
aurea),  with  handsome  yellow  branches.  These  tree^ 
are  peculiarly  beautiful  in  winter,  when  a  few  of  them 
mingled  with  other  deciduous  trees  make  a  pleasing 
variety  of  coloring  in  the  absence  of  foliage.  The  broad- 
leaved  European  lime  is  the  finest  for  shade  and 
ornament.  The  whitish  foliage  of  Tilia  alba,  which 
probably  is  also  a  variety,  has  a  beautiful  appearance, 
somewhat  like  the  Abele  tree,  in  a  gentle  breeze. 

These  trees  grow  well  on  any  good  friable  soil,  and 
readily  endure  transplantation.  They  bear  trimming 
remarkably  well ;  and  when  but  little  root  is  obtained  the 
head  may  be  shortened  in  proportion,  and  the  tree  will 
soon  make  vigorous  shoots  again.  All  the  species  are 
easily  increased  by  layers. 


The   Beech   Tree.     Fagus. 
Nat.  Ord.  Corylaceas.     Lin.  Syst.  MoncEcia,  Polyandria. 

The  Beech  is  a  large,  compact,  and  lofty  tree,  with  a 
greyish  bark  and  finely  divided  spray,  and  is  a  common 
inhabitant  of  the  forest  in  all  temperate  climates.  In  the 
United  States,  this  tree  is  generally  found  congregated  in 
very  great  quantities,  wherever  the  soil  is  most  favorable ; 
hundreds  of  acres  being  sometimes  covered  with  this 
single  kind  of  timber.     Such  tracts  are  familiarly  known 


172  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

as  "beech  woods."  The  leaves  of  the  beecn  are 
remarkably  thin  in  texture,  glazed  and  shining  on  the 
upper  surface,  and  so  thickly  set  upon  the  numerous 
branches,  that  it  forms  the  darkest  and  densest  shade  of 
any  of  our  deciduous  forest  trees.  It  appears  to  have 
been  highly  valued  by  the  ancients  as  a  shade  tree ;  and 
Virgil  says  in  its  praise,  in  a  well-known  Eclogue : 

"  Tityre,  tu  patulae  recubans  sub  tegmine  fagi, 
Sylvestrera  tenui  musam  meditaiis  avena." 

It  bears  a  small  compressed  nut  or  mast,  oily  and  sweet, 
which  once  was  much  valued  as  an  article  of  food.  The 
most  useful  purpose  to  which  we  have  heard  of  their  being 
applied,  is  in  the  manufacture  of  an  oil,  scarcely  inferior 
to  olive  oil.  This  is  produced  from  the  mast  of  the  beech 
forests  in  the  department  of  Oise,  France,  in  immense 
quantities ;  more  than  a  million  of  sacks  of  the  nuts 
having  been  collected  in  that  department  in  a  single 
season.  They  are  reduced,  when  perfectly  ripe,  to  a  fine 
paste,  and  the  oil  is  extracted  by  gradual  pressure.  The 
product  of  oil,  compared  with  the  crushed  nuts,  is  about 
sixteen  per  cent.     [Michaux,  N.  American  Sylva.) 

In  Europe,  the  wood  of  the  beech  is  much  used  in  the 
manufacture  of  various  utensils ;  but  here,  where  our 
forests  abound  in  woods  vastly  superior  in  strength, 
durability,  and  firmness,  that  of  the  beech  is  comparatively 
little  esteemed. 

For  ornamental  purposes,  the  beech,  from  its  compara- 
tively slow  growth,  and  its  abundance  in  various  parts  of 
the  country,  does  not  command  the  admiration  here  which 
it  does  in  Europe.  Campbell,  the  poet,  has  produced  so 
eloquent  and  beautiful  an  appeal  in  favor  of  an  old  denizen 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  173 

of  the  forest,  entitled  the  "Beech  Tree's  Petition,"  that 
we  gladly  quote  it,  hoping  it  may  perchance  stay  the 
hand  of  some  soi-disant  improver,  who  would  despoil  our 
native  woods  of  their  proudest  glories  : 

"  Oh,  leave  this  barren  spot  to  me ! 
Spare,  woodman,  spare  the  beechen  tree! 
Though  bush  or  floweret  never  grow 
My  dark,  unwarming  shade  below ; 
Nor  summer  bud  perfume  the  dew 
Of  rosy  blush  or  yellow  hue ! 
Nor  fruits  of  autumn,  blossom-bom, 
My  green  and  glossy  leaves  adorn  ; 
Nor  murmuring  tribes  from  me  derive 
Th'  ambrosial  amber  of  the  hive  ; 
Yet  leave  this  barren  spot  to  me — 
Spare,  woodman,  spare  the  beechen  tree.' 

Thrice  twenty  summers  I  have  seen 
The  sky  grow  bright,  the  forest  green  j 
And  many  a  wintry  wind  have  stood 
In  bloomless,  fruitless  solitude. 
Since  childhood  in  my  pleasant  bower 
First  spent  its  sweet  and  sportive  hour  ; 
Since  youthful  lovers  in  my  shade 
Their  vows  of  truth  and  rapture  made  ; 
And  on  my  trunk's  surviving  frame 
CaiTed  many  a  long-forgotten  name. 
Oh !  by  the  sighs  of  gentle  sound 
First  breathed  upon  this  sacred  ground. 
By  all  that  Love  has  whispered  here. 
Or  beauty  heard  with  ravished  ear ; 
As  Love's  own  altar,  honor  mo — 
Spare,  woodman,  spare  the  beechen  tree  i " 

The  beech  is  quite  handsome  and  graceful  wher,  young, 
and  when  large  it  forms  one  of  the  heaviest  and  grandest 
of  beautiful  park  trees.  From  this  massy  quality,  how- 
ever, it  is  excellently  adapted  to  mingle  with  other  treea 
when  a  thick  anc  impenetrable  mass  of  foliage  is  desired  * 


174  'landscape  gardening. 

and,  on  account  of  its  density,  it  is  also  well  suited  to  shul 
out  unsightly  buildings,  or  other  objects. 

The  leaves  of  many  beech  trees  hang  on  the  tree,  in  a 
dry  and  withered  state,  during  the  whole  winter.  This  is 
chiefly  the  case  with  young  trees  ;  but  we  consider  it  as 
greatly  diminishing  its  beauty  at  that  season,  as  the  tree  is 
otherwise  very  pleasing  to  the  eye,  with  its  smooth,  round, 
grey  stem,  and  small  twisted  spray.  A  deciduous  tree,  we 
think,  should  as  certainly  drop  its  leaves  at  the  approach 
of  cold  weather,  as  an  evergreen  should  retain  them  ;  more 
especially  if  its  leaves  have  a  dead  and  withered  appearance, 
as  is  the  case  with  those  of  the  beech  in  this  climate. 

The  White  beech  (Fagus  Syhatica)  is  the  common 
beech  tree  of  the  middle  and  western  states.  It  is  found  in 
the  greatest  perfection  in  a  cool  situation  and  a  moist  soil. 
The  bark  is  smooth  and  grey,  even  upon  the  oldest  stocks. 
The  leaves  oval,  smooth,  and  shining,  coarsely  cut  on  the 
edges,  and  margined  with  a  soft  down  in  the  spring. 

The  Red  beech  {F.  ferruginea),  so  called  on  account  of 
the  color  of  its  wood,  loves  a  still  colder  climate  than  the 
other,  and  is  found  in  the  greatest  perfection  in  British 
America.  The  leaves  are  divided  into  coarser  teeth  on 
the  margin  than  the  foregoing  species.  The  nuts  are  much 
smaller,  and  the  whole  tree  forms  a  lower  and  more  spread- 
ing head. 

The  European  beech  (F.  syhatica)  is  thought  by  many 
botanists  to  be  the  same  species  as  our  white  beech,  or  at 
most  only  a  variety.  Its  average  height  in  Europe  is 
about  fifty  feet ;  the  buds  are  shorter,  and  the  leaves  not  so 
coarsely  toothed  as  our  native  sorts.  The  Purple  beech  is 
a  very  ornamental  variety  of  the  European  beech,  common 


DECIDUOUS  :rna.\iental  tubes.  175 

in  the  gardens.  Both  surfaces  of  the  leaves,  and  even  the 
young  shoots,  are  deep  purple ;  and  although  the  growth  is 
slow,  yet  it  is  in  every  stage  of  its  progress,  and  more  par 
ticularly  when  it  reaches  a  good  size,  one  of  the  strangest 
anomalies  among  trees,  in  the  hue  of  its  foliage.  There  is 
also  a  variety  called  the  copper-colored  beech,  with  paler 
purple  leaves  ;*  and  a  more  rare  English  variety  (F.  s.  pen- 
dula),  the  Weeping  beech,  with  graceful  pendent  branches 

The  Hornbeam  {Carpinus  Americana),  and  the  Iron- 
wood  {Ostrya  Virginicd),  are  both  well  known  small  trees, 
belonging  to  the  same  natural  family  as  the  beech.  They 
are  of  little  value  in  ornamental  plantations  ;  but  from  their 
thick  foliage,  they  might  perhaps  be  employed  to  advantage 
in  making  thick  verdant  screens  for  shelter  or  concealment. 


The  Poplar  Tree.     Populus. 
Nat.  Ord.     6aiicaeeae.  Lin,  Syst.     Dioecia,  Octandria. 

Arbor  Populi,  or  the  people's  tree,  was  the  name  given 
in  the  ancient  days  of  Rome  to  this  tree,  as  being  peculiarly 
appropriated  to  those  public  places  most  frequented  by  the 
people :  some  ingenious  authors  have  still  further  justified 
the  propriety  of  the  name,  by  adding,  that  its  trembling 
'eaves  are  like  the  populace,  always  in  motion. 

The  poplars  are  light- wooded,  rapid-growing  trees  ;  many 

*  The  finest  Copper  Beech  in  America  is  growing  in  the  grounds  of  Thomas 
Ash,  Esq.,  Throgs  Neck,  Westchester  Co.,  N.  Y.  It  is  more  than  fifty  feet 
pigh,  vnth  a  broad  and  finely  formed  head. 


176  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

of  them  of  huge  size,  and  all  with  pointed,  heart-shaped 
leaves.  The  tassel-like  catkins,  or  male  blossoms,  of  a  red 
or  brownish  hue,  appear  early  in  the  spring.  Some  of  the 
American  kinds,  as  the  Balsam  and  Balm  of  Gilead  poplars, 
have  their  buds  enveloped  in  a  fragrant  gum  ;  others,  as 
the  Silver  poplar,  or  Abele,  are  remarkable  for  the  snowy 
whiteness  of  the  under  side  of  the  foliage  ;  and  the  Lom- 
bardy  poplar,  which 

"  Shoots  up  its  spire,  and  shakes  its  leaves  in  the  sun," 

Proctor. 

for  its  remarkably  conical  or  spire-like  manner  of  growth. 
The  leaves  of  all  the  species,  being  suspended  upon  long 
and  slender  footstalks,  are  easily  put  in  motion  by  the  wind. 
This,  however,  is  peculiarly  the  case  with  the  aspen,  the 
leaves  of  which  may  often  be  seen  trembling  in  the  slightest 
breeze,  when  the  foliage  of  the  surrounding  trees  is  motion- 
less. There  is  a  popular  legend  in  Scotland  respecting 
this  tree,  which  runs  thus  : 

"  Far  ofl  in  the  Highland  wilds  'tis  said 
(But  truth  now  laughs  at  fancy's  lore), 
That  of  this  tree  the  cross  was  made, 

Which  erst  the  Lord  of  Glory  bore  ; 
And  of  that  deed  its  leaves  confess, 
E'er  since,  a  troubled  consciousness." 

In  Landscape  Gardening  the  poplar  is  not  highly  esteemed ; 
but  it  is  a  valuable  tree  when  judiciously  employed,  and 
produces  a  given  quantity  of  foliage  and  shade  sooner 
perhaps  than  any  other.  Some  of  the  American  kinds  are 
majestic  and  superb  trees  when  old,  particularly  the  Cotton- 
wood and  Balsam  poplars.*     One  of  the  handsomest  sorts 

•  There  is  a  noble  specimen  of  the  Cottonwood,  or,  as  it  is  here  called,  tli« 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES. 


177 


is  the  Silver  poplar,  which  is  much  valued  in  our  orna- 
mental plantations ;  the  more  so,  perhaps,  because  it  is  an 


\'^  ^' 


t^'3  vi-B.  ^    'Bwegtrw  V 


,.:---.>.^y 


[Fig.  37.    The  Cottonwood.] 


exotic.  At  some  distance,  the  downy  under  surfaces  of  the 
leaves,  turned  up  by  the  wind,  give  it  very  much  the  aspect 
of  a  tree  covered  with  white  blossoms.  This  effect  is  the 
more  striking,  when  it  is  situated  in  front  of  a  grouo  or 

Balm  of  Gilead  poplar,  about  two  miles  north  of  Newburgh,  on  the  Hudson, 
which  gives  its  name  to  the  small  village  (Baim^lle)  near  it.  The  branches 
cover  a  surface  of  one  hundred  feet  in  diameter,  the  trunk  girths  twenty  feet, 
and  the  branches  stretch  over  the  public  road  in  a  most  majestic  manner.  (See 
Fig.  37.) 

12 


178  LANDS  JAPE    GARDENING. 

mass  of  the  darker  foliage  of  other  trees.  It  is  valuable  foi 
retaining  its  leaves  in  full  beauty  to  the  latest  possible 
neriod  in  the  autumn,  even  when  all  the  other  deciduous 
trees  are  either  brown,  or  have  entirely  lost  their  leafy 
honors.  Its  growth  is  extremely  rapid,  forming  a  fine 
rounded  head  of  thirty  feet  in  height,  in  six  or  eight 
years. 

The  Lombardy  poplar  is  a  beautiful  tree,  and  in  certain 
situations  produces  a  very  elegant  effect ;  but  it  has  been 
planted  so  indiscriminately,  in  some  parts  of  this  country, 
in  close  monotonous  lines  before  the  very  doors  of  our 
houses,  and  in  many  places  in  straight  rows  along  the  high- 
ways for  miles  together,  to  the  neglect  of  our  fine  native 
trees,  that  it  has  been  tiresome  and  disgusting.     This  tree 
may,  however,  be  employed  with   singular  advantage  in 
giving  life,  spirit,  and  variety  to  a  scene  composed  entirely 
of  round-headed  trees,  as  the  oak,  ash,  etc., — when  a  tall 
poplar,  emerging  here  and  there  from  the  back  or  centre 
of  the  group,  often  imparts  an  air  of  elegance  and  animation 
to  the  whole.     It  may,  also,  from  its  marked  and  striking 
contrast  to  other  trees,  be  employed  to  fix  or  direct  the 
attention  to  some  particular  point  in  the  landscape.     When 
large  poplars  of  this  kind  are  growing  near  a  house  of  but 
moderate  dimensions,  they  have  a  very  bad  effect  by  com- 
pletely overpowering  the  building,  without  imparting  any 
of  that  grandeur  of  character  conferred  by  an  old  oak,  or 
other  spreading  tree.     It  should  be  introduced  but  sparingly 
in  landscape  composition,  as  the  moment  it  is  made  com- 
mon in  any  scene,  it  gives  an  air  of  sameness  and  formality, 
ana  all  the  spirited  effect  is  lost  which  its  sparing  introduc- 
tion among  other  trees  produces.     The  Lombardy  poplar 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  179 

IS  SO  well  adapted  to  confined  situations,  as  its  branches 
require  less  lateral  room  than  those  of  almost  any  other 
large  deciduous  tree. 

It  is  an  objection  to  some  of  the  poplars,  that  in  any 
cultivated  soil  they  produce  an  abundance  of  suckers. 
For  this  reason  they  should  be  planted  only  in  grass  ground, 
or  in  situations  where  the  soil  will  not  be  disturbed,  or 
where  the  suckers  will  not  be  injurious.  Indeed,  we  con- 
ceive them  to  be  chiefly  worthy  of  introduction  in  grounds 
of  large  extent,  to  give  variety  to  plantations  of  other  and 
more  valuable  trees.  They  grow  well  in  almost  every  soil, 
moist  or  dry,  and  some  species  prefer  quite  wet  and  springy 
places. 

The  chief  American  poplars  are  the  Tachamahaca  or 
Balsam  poplar  {Populus  halsaynifera),  chiefly  found  in 
Northern  America  ;  a  large  tree,  80  feet  high,  with  fragrant 
gummy  buds  and  lanceolate-oval  leaves ;  the  Balm  of 
Gilead  poplar  (P.  candicans),  resembling  the  foregoing  in 
its  buds,  but  with  very  large,  broad,  heart-shaped  foliage. 
From  these  a  gum  is  sometimes  collected,  and  used  medi- 
cinally for  the  cure  of  scurvy.  The  American  aspen  (P. 
tremuloides),  about  30  feet  high,  a  common  tree  with  very 
ti'emulous  leaves  and  greenish  bark ;  the  large  American 
aspen  (P.  grandidentata),  40  feet  high,  with  large  leaves 
bordered  with  coarse  teeth  or  denticulations ;  the  Cotton 
tree  (P.  argentea),  60  or  70  feet,  with  leaves  downy  in  a 
young  state  ;  the  American  Black  poplar  of  smaller  size, 
having  the  young  shoots  covered  with  short  hair;  the 
Cottonwood  (P.  Canadensis),  found  chiefly  in  the  western 
part  of  this  state,  a  fine  tree,  with  smooth,  unequally-toothed, 
wide  cordate  leaves  ;  and  the  Carolina  poplar  (P.  angulata), 


180  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

an  enormous  tree  of  the  swamps  of  the  south  and  west, 
considerably  resembling  the  Cotton  tree,  but  without  the 
resinous  buds  of  that  species. 

Among  the  European  kinds,  the  most  ornamental,  as  we 
have  already  remarked,  is  the  Silver  aspen,  White  poplar,  or 
Abele  tree  (P.  alba),  which  grows  to  a  great  size  on  a  deep 
loamy  soil  in  a  very  short  time.  The  leaves  are  divided 
into  lobes,  and  toothed  on  the  margin,  smooth  and  very 
deep  green  above,  and  densely  covered  with  a  soft,  close, 
white  down  beneath.  There  are  some  varieties  of  this 
species  known  abroad,  with  leaves  more  or  less  downy,  etc. 
Sir  J.  E.  Smith  remarks  in  his  English  Flora,  that  the  wood, 
though  but  little  used,  is  much  firmer  than  that  of  any  other 
British  poplar  ;  making  as  handsome  floors  as  the  best 
Norway  fir,  with  the  additional  advantage  that  they  will 
not  readily  take  fire,  like  any  resinous  wood. 

The  English  aspen  (P.  tremula)  considerably  resembles 
our  native  aspen  ;  but  the  buds  are  somewhat  gummy. 
The  Athenian  poplar  (P.  Grceca)  is  a  tree  about  40  feet 
high,  with  smaller,  more  rounded,  and  equally  serrated 
foliage.  The  common  Black  European  poplar  (P.  nigra) 
is  also  a  large,  rapidly  growing  tree,  with  pale-green  leaves 
slightly  notched:  the  buds  expand  later  than  most  other 
poplars,  and  the  young  leaves  are  at  first  somewhat  reddish 
in  color.  The  Necklace-bearing  poplar  (P.  monilifera),  sc 
called  from  the  circumstance  of  the  catkins  beino;  arranged 
somewhat  like  beads  in  a  necklace,  is  supposed  to  have 
been  derived  from  Canada,  but  there  are  some  doubts 
respecting  its  origin :  in  the  south  it  is  generally  called  the 
Virginia  poplar. 

The  Lombardy  poplar  (P.  dllatata),  a  native  of  the  banks 
of  the  Po,  where  it  is  sometimes  called  the  Cypress  poplar 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  181 

from  its  resembance  to  that  tree,  is  too  well  known  among 
us  to  need  any  description.  Only  one  sex,  the  female,  has 
hitherto  been  introduced  into  this  country ;  and  it  has  con- 
sequently produced  no  seeds  here,  but  has  been  entirely 
propagated  by  suckers  from  the  root. 


The  Horse-chestnut  Tree.     j^scuIus. 
Nat.  Ord.  ^sculaceae.  Lin.  Syst.  Heptandria,  Monogynia. 

A  large,  showy,  much  admired,  ornamental  tree,  bearing 
large  leaves  composed  of  seven  leaflets,  and,  in  the  month 
of  May,  beautiful  clusters  of  white  flowers,  delicately  mot- 
tled with  red  and  yellow.  It  is  a  native  of  Middle  Asia, 
but  flourishes  well  in  the  temperate  climates  of  both  hemi- 
spheres. It  was  introduced  into  England,  probably  from 
Turkey,  about  the  year  1575  :  in  that  country  the  nuts  are 
often  ground  into  a  coarse  flour,  which  is  mixed  with  other 
food  and  given  to  horses  that  are  broken-winded  ;  and  from 
this  use  the  English  name  of  the  tree  was  derived. 

A  starch  has  been  extracted  in  considerable  quantity 
from  the  nuts.  The  wood  is  considered  valueless  in  the 
United  States. 

The  Horse-chestnut  is  by  no  means  a  picturesque  tree, 
being  too  regularly  rounded  in  its  outlines,  and  too  compact 
and  close  in  its  surface,  to  produce  a  spirited  effect  in  light 
and  shade.  But  it  is  nevertheless  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
exotic  trees  which  will  bear  the  open  air  in  this  climate. 
The  leaves,  each  made  of  clusters  of  six  or  seven  leaflets, 
are  of  a  fine  dark-green  color ;  the  whole  head  of  foliage 


182  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

has  much  grandeur  and  richness  in  its  depth  of  hue  and 
massiness  of  outline  ;  and  the  regular,  rounded,  pyramidal 
shape,  is  something  so  different  from  that  of  most  of  our 
indigenous  trees,  as  to  strike  the  spectator  with  an  air  of 
novelty  and  distinctness.     The  great  beauty  of  the  Horse- 
chestnut  is  the  splendor  of  its  inflorescence,  surpassing  that 
of  almost  all  our  native  forest  trees :  the  huge  clusters  of 
gay  blossoms,  which  every  spring  are  distributed  with  such 
luxuriance  and  profusion  over  the  surface  of  the  foliage, 
and  at  the  extremity  of  the  branches,  give  the  whole  tree 
the  aspect  rather  of  some  monstrous  flowering  shrub,  than 
of  an  ordinary  tree  of  the  largest  size.     At  that  season  there 
can  be  no  more  beautiful  object  to  stand  singly  upon  the 
lawn,  particularly  if  its  branches  are  permitted  to  grow  low 
down  the  trunk,  and  (as  they  naturally  will  as  the  tree  ad- 
vances) sweep  the  green  sward  with  their  drooping  foliage. 
Like  the  lime  tree,  however,  care  must  be  taken,  in  the 
modern  style,  to  introduce  it  rather  sparingly  in  picturesque 
plantations,  and  then  only  as  a  single  tree,  or  upon  the 
margin  of  large  groups,  masses,  or  plantations ;  but  it  may 
be  more  freely  used  in  grounds  in  the  graceful  style,  for 
which  it  is  highly  suitable.     When  handsome  avenues  or 
straight  lines  are  wanted,  the  Horse-chestnut  is  again  ad- 
mirably suited,  from  its  symmetry  and  regularity.     It  is, 
therefore,  much  and  justly  valued  for  these  purposes  in  our 
towns  and  cities,  where  its  deep  shade  and  beauty  of  blos- 
som are  peculiarly  desirable,  the  only  objection  to  it  being 
the  early  fall  of  its  leaves.     The  Horse-chestnut  is  very 
interesting  in  its  mode  of  growth.     The  large  buds  are 
thickly  covered  in  winter  with  a  resinous  gum,  to  protect 
them  from  the  cold  and  moisture  ;  in  the  spring  these  burst 
open,  and  the  whole  growth  of  the  young  shoots,  leaves, 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  183 

flowers,  and  all,  is  completed  in  about  three  or  four  weeks. 
When  the  leaves  first  unfold,  they  are  clothed  with  a 
copious  cotton-like  down,  which  falls  off  when  they  have 
attained  their  full  size  and  development. 

The  growth  of  the  Horse-chestnut  is  slow  for  a  soft- 
wooded  tree,  when  the  trees  are  young ;  after  five  or  six 
years,  however,  it  advances  with  more  rapidity,  and  in 
twenty  years  forms  a  beautiful  and  massy  tree.  It  prefers 
a  strong,  rich,  loamy  soil,  and  is  easily  raised  from  the  large 
nuts,  which  are  produced  in  great  abundance. 

There  are  several  species  of  Horse-chestnut,  but  the 
common  one  (JEsculus  Hippocastanwn)  is  incomparably 
the  finest.  The  American  sorts  ai'e  the  following :  {/Es- 
culus  Oliioensis)  or  Ohio  Buckeye,  as  it  is  called  in  the 
western  states  ;  a  small  sized  tree,  with  palmated  leaves 
consisting  of  Jive  leaflets,  and  pretty,  bright  yellow  flowers, 
with  red  stamens.  The  fruit  is  about  half  the  size  of  the 
exotic  species.  The  Red-flowered  Horse-chestnut  (y^scu- 
lus  ruhicunda)  is  a  small  tree  with  scarlet  flowers  ;  and  the 
Smooth-leaved  (^.  glabra)  has  pale  yellow  flowers.  All 
the  foregoing  have  prickly  fruit.  Besides  these  are  two 
small  Horse-chestnuts  with  smooth  fruit,  which  thence 
properly  belong  to  the  genus  Pavia,  viz.  the  Yellow-flow- 
ered Pavia  (P.  lutea)  of  Virginia  and  the  southern  states  ; 
and  the  Red-flowered  {P.  rubra),  with  pretty  clusters  of 
reddish  flowers ;  both  these  have  leaves  resembling  those 
of  the  Horse-chestnut,  except  in  being  divided  into  five 
leaflets,  instead  of  seven.  There  are  some  other  species, 
which  are,  however,  rather  shrubs  than  trees. 


184  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

The  Birch  Tree.     Betula. 
Nat.  Ord.     Bctulaceae.     Lin.  Syst.     Moncecia,  Polyandria. 

The  Birch  trees  are  common  inhabitants  of  the  forests 
of  all  cold  and  elevated  countries.  They  are  remarkable 
for  their  smooth,  silvery-white,  or  reddish  colored  stems, 
delicate  and  pliant  spray,  and  small,  light  foliage.  There 
is  no  deciduous  tree  which  will  endure  a  more  rigorous 
climate,  or  grow  at  a  greater  elevation  above  the  level  of 
the  sea.  It  is  found  growing  in  Greenland  and  Kams- 
chatka,  as  far  north  as  the  58th  and  60th  degree  of 
latitude,  and  on  the  Alps  in  Switzerland,  according  to 
that  learned  botanist,  M.  DeCandolle,  at  the  elevation  of 
4,400  feet.  It  is  undoubtedly  the  most  useful  tree  of 
northern  climates.  Not  only  are  cattle  and  sheep 
sometimes  fed  upon  the  leaves,  but  the  Laplander 
constructs  his  hut  of  the  branches;  the  Russian  forms 
the  bark  into  shoes,  baskets,  and  cordage  for  harnessing 
his  reindeer ;  and  the  inhabitants  of  Northern  Siberia,  in 
times  of  scarcity,  grind  it  to  mix  with  their  oatmeal  for 
food.  In  this  country  the  birch  is  no  less  useful.  The 
North  American  Indian,  and  all  who  are  obliged  to  travel 
the  wild,  unfrequented  portions  of  British  America, — 
who  have  to  pass  over  rapids,  and  make  their  way 
through  the  wilderness  from  river  to  river, — find  the 
canoe  made  of  the  birch  bark,  the  lightest,  the  most 
durable,  and  convenient  vessel,  for  these  purposes,  in  the 
world.* 

*  The  following  interesting  description  of  their  manufacture,  we  quote  from 
Michaux.  "  The  most  important  purpose  to  wliich  the  Canoe  birch  is  applied, 
and  one  in  which  its  place  is  supplied  h  •  no  other  tree,  is  the  construction  o/ 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  185 

The  wood  of  our  Black  birch  is  by  far  the  finest ;  and, 
as  it  assumes  a  beautiful  rosy  color  when  polished,  and  ia 
next  in  texture  to  the  wild  Cherry  tree,  it  is  considerably 
esteemed  among  cabinet-makers  in  the  eastern  states,  for 
chairs,  tables,  and  bedsteads. 

In  Europe,  the  sap  of  the  birch  is  collected  in  the 
spring,  in  the  same  manner  as  that  of  the  maple  in  this 
country,  boiled  with  sugar  and  hops,  and  fermented  with 
the  aid  of  yeast.  The  product  of  the  fermentation  is 
called  hirch  wine,  and  is  descwbed  as  being  a  remarkably 
pleasant  and  healthy  beverage. 

Though  perhaps  too  common  in  some  districts  of  our 
country  to  be  properly  regarded  as  an  ornamental  tree, 
yet  in  others  where  it  is  less  so,  the  birch  will  doubtless 
be  esteemed  as  it  deserves.  With  us  it  is  a  great  favorite  ; 
and  we  regard  it  as  a  very  elegant  and  graceful  tree,  not 
less  on  account  of  the  silvery  white  bark  of  several 
species,  than  from  the  extreme  delicacy  of  the  spray,  and 
the  pleasing  lightness  and  airiness  of  the  foliage.  In  all 
the  species,  the  branches  have  a  tendency  to  form  those 
graceful  curves  which  contribute  so  much  to  the  beauty 


canoes.  To  procure  proper  pieces,  the  largest  and  smoothest  trunks  are 
selected  ;  in  the  spring,  two  circular  incisions  are  made  several  feet  apart,  and 
two  longitudinal  ones,  on  opposite  sides  of  the  tree :  after  which,  by  intro- 
ducing a  wedge,  the  bark  is  easily  detached.  These  plates  are  usually  ten  or 
twelve  feet  long,  and  two  feet  nine  inches  broad.  To  form  canoes,  they  are 
stitched  together  with  fibrous  roots  of  the  white  spruce,  about  the  size  of  a 
quill,  which  are  deprived  of  the  bark,  split,  and  suppled  in  water.  The  seams 
are  coated  with  resin  of  the  Balm  of  Gilead.  Great  use  is  made  of  these 
canoes  by  the  savages,  and  the  French  Canadians,  in  their  long  journeys  through 
the  interior  of  the  country :  they  are  light,  and  very  easily  transported  on  the 
shoulders  from  one  lake  to  another,  which  is  called  the  portage.  A  canoe 
calculated  for  four  persons,  with  their  baggage,  weighs  from  forty  to  filty 
pounds  ;  and  some  of  them  are  nade  to  carry  fifteen  passengers." 


186  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

of  trees  ;  but  the  European  weeping  birch  is  peculiarly 
pleasing  as  it  grows  old,  on  that  account.  It  is  this  variety 
which  Coleridge  pronounces, 

" Most  beautiful 


Of  forest  trees — the  Lady  of  the  woods." 

And  Bernard  Barton,  speaking  of  our  native  species,  says. 

"  See  the  beautiful  Birch  tree  fling 


Its  shade  on  the  grass  beneath — 
Its  glossy  leaf,  and  its  silvery  stem  ; 
Dost  thou  not  love  to  look  on  them  1" 

The  American  sorts,  and  particularly  the  Black  birch, 
start  into  leaf  very  early  in  the  spring,  and  their  tender 
green  is  agreeable  to  the  eye  at  that  season ;  while  the 
swelling  buds  and  young  foliage  in  many  kinds,  give  out  a 
delicious,  though  faint  perfume.  Even  the  blossoms,  which 
hang  like  little  brown  tassels  from  the  drooping  branches, 
are  interesting  to  the  lover  of  nature. 

"  The  fragrant  birch  above  him  hung 
Her  tassels  in  the  sky. 
And  many  a  vernal  blossom  sprung, 
And  nodded  careless  by." 

Bryant. 

Nothing  can  well  be  prettier,  seen  from  the  windows  of 
the  drawing-room,  than  a  large  group  of  trees,  whose  depth 
and  distance  is  made  up  by  the  heavy  and  deep  masses  of 
the  ash,  oak,  and  maple ;  and  the  portions  nearest  the  eye  or 
the  lawn  terminated  by  a  few  birches,  with  their  sparkling 
white  stems,  and  delicate,  airy,  drooping  foliage.  Our  Wiiite 
birch,  being  a  small  tree,  is  very  handsome  in  such  situa- 
tions, and  offers  the  most  pleasing  variety  to  the  eye,  when 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  187 

Been  m  connexion  with  other  fohage.  Several  kinds,  as 
the  Yellow  and  the  Black  birches,  are  really  stately  trees, 
and  form  fine  groups  by  themselves.  Indeed,  most  beauti- 
ful and  varied  masses  might  be  formed  by  coUecting 
toirether  all  the  different  kinds,  with  their  characteristic 
barks,  branches,  and  foliage. 

As  an  additional  recommendation,  many  of  these  trees 
grow  on  the  thinnest  and  most  indifferent  soils,  whether 
moist  or  dry  ;  and  in  cold,  bleak,  and  exposed  situations, 
as  well  as  in  warm  and  sheltered  places. 

We  shall  enumerate  the  different  kinds  as  follows  : — 

The  Canoe  birch,  Boleau  a  Caiiot,  of  the  French  Cana- 
dians {B.papyracea),  sometimes  also  called  the  Paper  birch, 
is,  according  to  Michaux,  most  common  in  the  forests  of  the 
eastern  states,  north  of  latitude  43°,  and  in  the  Canadas. 
There  it  attains  its  largest  size,  sometimes  seventy  feet  in 
height,  and  three  in  diameter.  Its  branches  are  slender, 
flexible,  covei'ed  with  a  shining  brown  bark,  dotted  with 
white  ;  and  on  trees  of  moderate  size,  the  bark  of  the  trunk 
is  of  a  brilliant  white  ;  it  is  often  used  for  roofing  houses, 
for  the  manufacture  of  baskets,  boxes,  etc.,  besides  its  most 
important  use  for  canoes,  as  already  mentioned.  The  leaves, 
borne  on  petioles  four  or  five  lines  long,  are  of  a  middling 
size,  oval,  unequally  denticulated,  smooth,  and  of  a  dark 
green  color. 

The  White  birch  [B.  populifolid)  is  a  tree  of  much 
smaller  size,  generally  from  twenty  to  thirty-five  feet  in 
height :  it  is  found  in  New  York  and  the  other  middle 
states,  as  well  as  at  the  north.  The  trunk,  hke  the  fore- 
going, is  covered  with  silvery  bark  :  the  branches  are 
slender,  and  generally  drooping  when  the  iree  attains  con 
siderable  size.     The  leaves  are  smooth  on  both  surfaces. 


188  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

heart-shaped  at  the  base,  very  acuminate,  and  doubly  and 
irregularly  toothed.  The  petioles  are  slightly  twisted,  and 
the  leaves  are  almost  as  tremulous  as  those  of  the  aspen. 
It  is  a  beautiful  small  tree  for  ornamental  plantations. 

The  common  Black  or  Sweet  birch.  (B.  lenta)  This 
is  the  sort  most  generally  known  by  the  name  of  the  birch, 
and  is  widely  diffused  over  the  middle  and  southern  states. 
In  color  and  appearance  the  bark  much  resembles  that  of 
the  cherry  tree ;  on  old  trees,  at  the  close  of  winter,  it  is 
frequently  detached  in  transverse  portions,  in  the  form  of 
hard  ligneous  plates  six  or  eight  inches  broad.  The  leaves. 
for  a  fortnight  after  their  appearance,  are  covered  with  a 
thick  silvery  down,  which  disappears  soon  after.  They  are 
about  two  inches  long,  serrate,  heart-shaped  at  the  base, 
acuminate  at  the  summit,  and  of  a  pleasing  tint  and  fine 
texture.  The  wood  is  of  excellent  quality,  and  Michaux 
recommends  its  introduction  largely  into  the  forests  of  the 
north  of  Europe. 

The  Yellow  birch  {B.  lutea)  grows  most  plentifully  in 
Nova  Scotia,  Maine,  and  New  Brunswick,  on  cool,  rich 
soils,  where  it  is  a  tree  of  the  largest  size.  It  is  remark- 
able for  the  color  and  arrangement  of  its  outer  bark,  which 
is  of  a  brilliant  golden  yellow,  and  is  frequently  seen  divided 
into  fine  strips  rolled  backwards  at  the  end,  but  attached  in 
the  middle.  The  leaves  are  about  three  and  a  half  inches 
long,  two  and  a  half  broad,  ovate,  acuminate,  and  bordered 
with  sharp  and  irregular  teeth.  It  is  a  beautiful  tree,  with 
a  trunk  of  nearly  uniform  diameter,  straight,  and  destitute 
of  branches  for  thirty  or  forty  feet. 

The  Red  jirch  {B.  ruhi^a)  belongs  chiefly  to  the  south, 
being  scarcely  ever  seen  north  of  Virginia.  It  prefers  the 
moist  soil  of  river  banks,  where  i'  reaches  a  noble  height 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  189 

It  takes  its  name  from  the  cinnamon  or  reddish  color  of  the 
outer  bark  on  the  young  trees  ;  when  old  it  becomes  rough, 
furrowed,  and  greenish.  The  leaves  are  light  green  on  the 
upper  surface,  whitish  beneath,  very  pointed  at  the  end, 
and  terminated  at  the  base  in  an  acute  angle.  The  twigs 
are  long,  flexible,  and  pendulous  ;  and  the  limbs  of  a  brown 
color,  spotted  with  white. 

The  European  White  birch.  {B.  alba.)  This  species, 
the  common  birch  tree  of  Europe,  is  intermediate  in  appear- 
ance and  qualities  between  our  Canoe  birch  and  White 
birch.  The  latter  it  resembles  in  its  foliage,  the  former  in 
its  large  size  and  the  excellence  of  its  wood.  There  is  a 
distinct  variety  of  this,  to  which  we  have  alluded,  called 
the  Weeping  birch  (Var.  pendula),  which  is  very  rapid  in 
its  growth,  and  highly  graceful  in  its  form.  From  the  great 
beauty  of  our  native  species,  this  is  perhaps  the  only  Euro- 
pean sort  which  it  is  very  desirable  to  introduce  into  our 
collections. 


The  Alder  Tree.     Alnus. 
Nat.  Ord.     Betulaceae.  Li7i.  Syst.     Monoecia,  Tetrandria. 

The  alder  tree  is  a  native  of  the  whole  of  Europe,  where 
It  grows  to  the  altitude  of  from  thirty  to  sixty  feet.  Our 
common  Black  alder  {A.  glaiica),  and  Hazel-leaved  alder 
{A.  serrulata),  are  low  shrubs  of  little  value  or  interest. 
This,  however,  is  a  neat  tree,  remarkable  for  its  love  of 
moist  situations,  and  thriving  best  in  places  even  too  wet 
or  the  willows  ;  although  it  will  also  flourish  on  dry  and 
elevated  soils      The  leaves  are  roundish  in  form,  wavy,  and 


190  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

serrated  in  their  margins,  and  dark  green  in  color.  Th« 
tree  rapidly  forms  an  agreeable  pyramidal  head  of  foliage, 
when  growing  in  damp  situations.  As  it  is  a  foreign  tree 
we  shall  quote  from  Gilpin  its  character  in  scenery.  "  The 
alder,"  says  he,  "loves  a  low,  moist  soil,  and  frequents  the 
banks  of  rivers,  and  will  flourish  in  the  poorest  forest 
swamps  where  nothing  else  will  grow.  It  is  perhaps  the 
most  picturesque  of  any  of  the  aquatic  tribe,  except  the 
weeping  willow.  He  who  would  see  the  alder  in  perfection 
must  follow  the  banks  of  the  Mole  in  Surrey,  through  the 
sweet  vales  of  Dorking  and  Mickleham,  into  the  groves  of 
Esher.  The  Mole,  indeed,  is  far  from  being  a  beautiful 
river ;  it  is  a  silent  and  sluggish  stream,  but  what  beauty 
it  has  it  owes  greatly  to  the  alder,  which  everywhere  fringes 
its  meadows,  and  in  many  places  forms  very  pleasing  scenes. 
It  is  always  associated  in  our  minds  with  river  scenery, 
both  of  that  tranquil  description  most  frequently  to  be  met 
with  in  the  vales  of  England,  and  with  that  wider  and  more 
stirring  cast  which  is  to  be  found  amidst  the  deep  glens  and 
ravines  of  Scotland  ;  and  nowhere  is  this  tree  found  in 
greater  perfection  than  on  the  wild  banks  of  the  river  Find- 
horn  and  its  tributary  streams,  where  scenery  of  the  most 
romantic  description  everywhere  prevails."* 

Although  the  beauty  of  the  alder  is  of  a  secondary  kind, 
it  is  worth  occasional  introduction  into  landscapes  where 
there  is  much  water  to  be  planted  round,  or  low  running 
streams  to  cover  with  foliage.  In  these  damp  places,  like 
the  willow,  it  grows  very  well  from  truncheons  or  large 
limbs,  stuck  in  the  ground,  which  take  root  and  become 
trees   speedily.     There   are   two   principal  varieties,   the 

•  Lauder'8  Gilpin,  i.  p.  J36. 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  191 

common  alder  (A.  glutinosa),  and  the  cut-leaved  aldei 
{A.  glutinosa  laciniata).  The  latter  is  much  the  hand 
somer  tree,  and  is  also  the  rarest  in  our  nurseries. 


The  Maple  Tree.     Acer. 
Nat.  Ord.     AceraccEe.  Lin.  Syst.     Polygamia,  Moncecia. 

The  great  esteem  in  which  the  maples  are  held  in  the 
middle  states,  as  ornamental  trees,  although  they  are  by  no 
means  uncommon  in  every  piece  of  woods  of  any  extent, 
is  a  high  proof  of  their  superior  merits  for  such  purposes. 
These  consist  in  the  rapidity  of  their  growth,  the  beauty 
of  their  form,  the  fine  verdure  of  their  foliage,  and  in  some 
sorts,  the  elegance  of  their  blossoms.  Among  all  the  spe- 
cies, both  native  and  foreign,  we  consider  the  Scarlet- 
flowering  maple  as  decidedly  the  most  ornamental  species. 
In  the  spring  this  tree  bursts  out  in  gay  tufts  of  red  blos- 
soms, which  enliven  both  its  own  branches  and  the  sur- 
rounding scene  long  before  a  leaf  is  seen  on  other  deciduous 
trees,  and  when  the  only  other  appearances  of  vegetation 
are  a  few  catkins  of  some  willows  or  poplars  swelling  into 
bloom.  At  that  season  of  the  year  the  Scarlet  maple  is 
certainly  the  most  beautiful  tree  of  our  forests.  Besides 
this,  it  grows  well  either  in  the  very  moist  soil  of  swamps, 
or  the  dry  one  of  upland  ridges,  forms  a  fine  clustering 
head  of  fohage,  and  produces  an  ample  and  delightful  shade  ; 
while  it  is  also  as  little  infected  by  insects  of  any  description 
as  any  other  tree.  The  latter  advantage,  the  Sugar  maple 
and  our  other  varieties  equally  possess.     As  a  handsome 


192  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

spreading  tree,  perhaps  the  White  maple  deserves  most 
praise,  its  outhne  and  surface  being,  in  many  cases,  quite 
picturesque.  There  is  no  quaUty,  however,  for  which  the 
American  maples  are  entitled  to  higher  consideration  as 
desirable  objects  in  scenery,  than  for  the  exquisite  beauty 
which  their  foliage  assumes  in  autumn,  as  it  fades  and 
gradually  dies  off.  At  the  first  approach  of  cold  we  can 
just  perceive  a  bright  yellow  stealing  over  the  leaves,  then 
a  deeper  golden  tint,  then  a  few  faint  blushes,  until  at 
length  the  whole  mass  of  foliage  becomes  one  blaze  of 
crimson  or  orange. 

"  Tints  that  the  maple  woods  disclose 
Like  opening  buds  or  fading  rose. 
Or  various  as  those  hues  that  dye 
The  clouds  that  deck  a  sunset  sky." 

The  contrast  of  coloring  exhibited  on  many  of  our  fine 
river  shores  in  a  warm  dry  autumn,  is  perhaps  superior  to 
anything  of  the  kind  in  the  world  :  and  the  leading  and 
most  brilliant  colors,  viz.  orange  and  scarlet,  are  pro- 
duced by  maples.  Even  in  Europe,  they  are  highly 
valued  for  this  autumnal  appearance,  so  different  from  that 
of  most  of  the  trees  of  the  old  world.  Very  beautiful 
effects  can  be  produced  by  planting  the  Scarlet  and  Sugar 
maples  in  the  near  neighborhood  of  the  ash,  which,  as  we 
have  already  noticed,  assumes  a  fine  brownish  purple ;  of 
the  sycamore,  which  is  yellow,  and  some  of  the  oaks,  which 
remain  green  for  a  long  time :  if  to  these  we  add  a  few 
evergreens,  as  the  White  pine  and  hemlock,  to  produce 
depth,  we  shall  have  a  kind  of  kaleidoscope  ground,  harmo. 
nious  and  beautiful  as  the  rainbow. 

When  the  maple  is  planted  to  grow  singly  on  the  lawn, 
or  in  small  groups,  it  should  never  be  trimmed  up  ten  or 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  193 

twenty  feet  high,  a  very  common  practice  in  some  places, 
as  this  destroys  half  its  beauty ;  but  if  it  be  suffered  to 
branch  out  quite  low  down,  it  will  form  a  very  elegant 
head.  The  maple  is  well  suited  to  scenes  expressive  of 
graceful  beauty,  as  they  unite  to  a  considerable  variation 
of  surface,  a  pleasing  softness  and  roundness  of  outline. 
In  bold  or  picturesque  scenes,  they  can  be  employed  to 
advantage  by  intermingling  them  with  the  more  striking 
and  majestic  forms  of  the  oak,  etc.,  where  variety  and 
contrast  is  desired.  The  European  sycamore,  which  is 
also  a  maple,  has  a  coarser  foliage,  and  more  of  strength  in 
its  growth  and  appearance :  it  perhaps  approaches  nearer 
in  general  expression  and  effect  to  the  plane  tree,  than  to 
our  native  maples. 

It  is  unnecessary  for  us  to  recommend  this  tree  for 
avenues,  or  for  bordering  the  streets  of  cities,  as  its  general 
prevalence  in  such  places  sufficiently  indicates  its  acknow- 
ledged claims  for  beauty,  shade,  and  shelter.  It  bears 
pruning  remarkably  well,  and  is  easily  transplanted,  even 
when  of  large  size,  from  its  native  woods  or  swamps.  The 
finest  trees,  however,  are  produced  from  seed. 

The  Sugar  maple  {Acer  saccharinum)  is  a  very  abundant 
tree  in  the  northern  states  and  the  Canadas,  where  it 
sometimes  forms  immense  forests.  The  bark  is  white ;  the 
leaves  four  or  five  inches  broad,  and  five-lobed ;  varying, 
however,  in  size  according  to  the  age  of  the  tree.  The 
flowers  are  small,  yellowish,  and  suspended  by  slender 
drooping  peduncles.  The  seed  is  contained  in  two  capsules 
united  at  the  base,  and  terminated  in  a  membranous  wing  ; 
they  are  ripe  in  October.  From  certain  parts  of  the  trunks 
of  old  Sugar  maples,  the  fine  wood  called  bird's-eye  maple 

13 


194:  LANDSCAPE    GARDENING, 

IS  taken,  which  is  so  higlily  prized  by  the  cabinet-makers 
and  the  sap,  which  flows  in  abundance  from  holes  bored  in 
the  stem  of  the  tree  early  in  March,  produces  the  well- 
known  maple  sugar.  This  can  be  clarified,  so  as  to  equal 
that  of  the  cane  in  flavor  and  appearance ;  and  it  has  been 
demonstrated  that  the  planting  of  maple  orchards,  for  the 
production  of  sugar,  would  be  a  profitable  investment. 

The  Scarlet-flowering  maple  {A.  ruhrum)  is  found 
chiefly  on  the  borders  of  rivers,  or  in  swamps  ;  the  latter 
place  appears  best  suited  to  this  tree,  for  it  there  often 
attains  a  very  large  size :  it  is  frequently  called  the  Soft 
maple  or  Swamp  maple.  The  blossoms  come  out  about 
the  middle  of  April  while  the  branches  are  yet  bare  of 
leaves,  and  their  numerous  little  pendulous  stamens  appear 
like  small  tufts  of  scarlet  or  purple  threads.  The  leaves 
somewhat  resemble  those  of  the  Sugar  maple,  but  are 
rather  smaller,  and  only  three  or  four  lobed,  glaucous  or 
whitish  underneath,  and  irregularly  toothed  on  the  margin. 
This  tree  may  easily  be  distinguished  when  young  from  the 
former,  by  the  bark  of  the  trunk,  which  is  grey,  with  large 
whitish  spots.  Its  trunk,  in  the  choicest  parts,  furnishes  the 
beautiful  wood  known  as  the  curled  maple. 

The  White  or  Silver-leaved  maple.  {A.  eriocarpum.) 
This  species  somewhat  resembles  the  Scarlet-flowering 
maple,  and  they  are  often  confounded  together  in  the 
eastern  and  middle  states,  where  it  grows  but  sparingly. 
West  of  the  Alleghany  mountains  it  is  seen  in  perfection, 
and  is  well  known  as  the  White  maple.  Its  flowers  are 
very  pale  in  color,  and  much  smaller  than  those  of  the 
foregoing  sorts.  The  leaves  are  divided  into  four  lobes, 
and  have  a  beautiful  white  under  surface.  Michaux, 
speaking  of  this  tree,  says :     "  In  no  part  of  the  United 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  195 

States  is  it  more  multiplied  than  in  the  western  country, 
and  nowhere  is  its  vegetation  more  luxuriant  than  on  the 
banks  of  the  Ohio.  There,  sometimes  alone  and  sometimes 
mingled  with  the  willow,  which  is  found  along  these  waters, 
it  contributes  singularly,  by  its  magnificent  foliage,  to  the 
embellishment  of  the  scene.  The  brilliant  white  of  the 
leaves  beneath,  forms  a  striking  contrast  with  the  ^^Mght 
green  above  ;  and  the  alternate  reflection  of  the  two  surfaces 
in  the  water,  heightening  the  beauty  of  this  wonderful 
moving  mirror,  aids  in  forming  an  enchanting  picture, 
which,  during  my  long  excursions  in  a  canoe  in  these  re- 
gions of  solitude  and  silence,  I  contemplated  with  unwearied 
admiration."*  There,  on  those  fine,  deep,  alluvial  soils,  it 
often  attains  twelve  or  fifteen  feet  in  circumference. 

As  an  ornamental  variety,  the  Silver-leaved  maple  is  one 
of  the  most  valuable.  It  is  exceedingly  rapid  in  its  growth, 
often  making  shoots  six  feet  long  in  a  season  ;  and  the 
silvery  hue  of  its  foliage,  when  stirred  by  the  wind,  as  well 
as  its  fine,  half  drooping  habit,  render  it  highly  interesting 
to  the  planter.  Admirable  specimens  of  this  species  may 
be  seen  in  the  wide  streets  of  Burlington,  N.  J. 

The  Moose  wood,  or  Striped  maple  (A.  striatum),  is  a  small 
tree  with  beautifully  striped  bark.  It  is  often  seen  on  the 
mountains  which  border  the  Hudson,  but  abounds  most 
profusely  in  the  north  of  the  continent.  Acer  nigrum  is 
the  Black  sugar  tree  of  Genesee.  A.  Negundo,-\  the  Ash- 
leaved  maple,  has  handsome  pinnated  foliage  of  a  light 
green  hue  ;  it  forms  a  pleasing  tree  of  medium  size. 
These  are  our  principal  native  species  J 

*  N.  A.  ^Iva,  i.  214.  +  Negundo  fraxinifolium. 

t  Mr.  Douglas  has  discovered  a  very  superb   maple  (A.  macrophyllum) ,  on 
Jie  Columbia  river,  with  very  large  leaves,  and  fine  fragrant  yellow  blosscrn.s 


196  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

Among  the  finest  foreign  sorts  is  the  Norway  maple 
(A.  platanoides),  with  leaves  intermediate  in  appearance 
between  those  of  the  plane  tree  and  Sugar  maple.  The 
bark  of  the  trunk  is  brown,  and  rougher  in  appearance 
than  our  maples,  and  the  tree  is  more  loose  and  spreading 
in  its  growth  ;  it  also  grows  more  rapidly,  and  strongly 
resembles  at  a  little  distance,  the  button-wood  in  its  young 
state.  Another  interesting  species  is  the  sycamore  tree  or 
Great  maple  (A.  pseudo-platanus).  The  latter  also 
considerably  resembles  the  plane  ;  but  the  leaves,  like  those 
of  the  common  maple,  are  smoother.  They  are  five-lobed, 
acute  in  the  divisions,  and  are  placed  on  much  longer 
petioles  than  those  of  most  of  the  species.  The  flowers, 
strung  in  clusters  like  those  of  the  common  currant,  are 
greenish  in  color.  It  is  much  esteemed  as  a  shade-tree 
in  Scotland  and  some  parts  of  the  Continent,  and  grows 
with  vigor,  producing  a  large  head,  and  widely  spreading 
branches. 


The  Locust  Tree.     Rohinia. 

Nat.  Ord.     Leguminosae.  Lin.  Sijst.     Diadelphia,  Decandria. 

This  is  a  well-known  American  tree,  found  growing 
wild  in  all  of  the  states  west  of  the  Delaware  River.  It  is 
a  tree  of  secondary  size,  attaining  generally  the  height  of 
forty  or  fifty  feet.  The  leaves  are  pinnated,  bluish-green 
m  color,  and  are  thinly  scattered  over  the  branches.  The 
white  blossoms  appear  in  June,  and  are  highly  fragrant  and 
beautiful ;    and  from  them  the  Paris  perfumers  distil  an 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  197 

extrait  which  greatly  resembles  orange-flower  water,  ana 
is  used  for  the  same  purposes. 

As  an  ornamental  tree  we  do  not  esteem  the  locust 
highly.  The  objections  to  it  are,  1st,  its  meagreness  and 
lightness  of  foliage,  producing  but  little  shade  ;  secondly, 
the  extreme  brittleness  of  its  branches,  which  are  liable  to 
be  broken  and  disfigured  by  every  gale  of  wind  ;  and  lastly, 
the  abundance  of  suckers  which  it  produces.  Notwith- 
standing these  defects,  we  would  not  entirely  banish  the 
locust  from  our  pleasure-grounds  ;  for  its  light  foliage  of  a 
fresh  and  pleasing  green  may  often  be  used  to  advantage 
in  producing  a  variety  with  other  trees ;  and  its  very  fra- 
grant blossoms  are  beautiful,  when  in  the  beginning  of 
summer  they  hang  in  loose  pendulous  clusters  from  among 
its  light  foliage.  These  will  always  speak  sufficiently  in 
its  favor  to  cause  it  to  be  planted  more  or  less,  where  a 
variety  of  trees  is  desired.  It  should,  however,  be  re- 
membered that  the  foliage  comes  out  at  a  late  period  in 
spring,  and  falls  early  in  autumn,  which  we  consider  objec- 
tions to  any  tree  that  is  to  be  planted  in  the  close  vicinity 
of  the  mansion.  It  is  valuable  for  its  extremely  rapid 
growth  when  young ;  as  during  the  first  ten  or  fifteen  years 
of  its  life  it  exceeds  in  thrifty  shoots  almost  all  other  forest 
trees :  but  it  is  comparatively  short-lived,  and  in  twenty 
years'  time  many  other  trees  would  completely  overtop  and 
outstrip  it.  It  is  easily  propagated  by  seed,  which  is  by 
far  the  best  mode  of  raising  it,  and  it  prefers  a  deep,  rich, 
sandy  loam.* 

*  There  is  a  great  difference  in  the  growth  of  this  tree.  In  cold  or  indifferent 
Eoils  it  presents  a  rough  and  rugged  aspect ;  but  in  deep,  warm,  sandy  soils  it 
becomes  quite  another  tree  in  appearance.  The  highest  specimens  we  have 
ever  seen  are  now  growing  in  such  soil  on  the  estate  of  J.  P.  Derwiut,  Esq.,  at 


198  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

As  a  timber  tree  of  the  very  first  class,  the  locust  has 
but  few  rivals.  It  is  found  to  be  stronger  and  more  dura- 
ble than  the  best  oak  or  Red  cedar  ;  while  it  is  lighter  and 
equally  durable  with  the  Live  oak  of  the  south.  Its  excel- 
lency for  ship-building  is  therefore  unsurpassed ;  and  as 
much  of  the  timber  as  can  be  procured  of  sufficient  size, 
commands  a  high  price  for  that  purpose.  Great  use  is  also 
made  of  it  in  tree-nails  (the  wooden  pins  which  fasten  the 
side  planks  to  the  ship's  frame),  and  it  is  now  extensively 
substituted  for  the  iron  ones  formerly  used  for  that  purpose  ; 
a  considerable  quantity  of  the  wood  is  now  even  exported 
to  England  for  this  purpose.  For  posts  it  is  more  durable 
than  the  Red  cedar,  and  is  therefore  in  high  estimation  for 
fencing.  In  France,  where  the  tree  was  introduced  by 
Jean  Robin,  herbalist  to  Henry  IV.  (whence  the  name 
Robinia),  it  is  much  cultivated  for  the  poles  used  in  support- 
ing the  grapes  in  vineyards.  It  has  the  remarkable  pro- 
perty, says  Michaux,  of  beginning  from  the  third  year  to 
convert  its  sap  into  perfect  wood ;  which  is  not  done  by 
the  elm,  oak,  beech,  or  chestnut,  until  after  the  tenth  oi 
fifteenth  year.  Hence  excellent  and  durable  timber  can 
be  obtained  from  this  tree  in  a  shorter  period  than  from 
any  other.* 

Fishkill  Landing,  on  the  banks  of  the  Hudson,  New  York.  Some  specimens 
there  measure  90  feet,  which  is  higher  than  Michaux  saw  on  the  deep  alluviak 
m  Kentucky,  where  they  are  natives.  The  finest  single  tree  is  one  standing  in 
front  of  the  mansion  at  Clermont,  on  the  Hudson,  which  is  four  feet  in 
diameter. 

*  Cobbett,  who,  en  passant,  though  a  most  remarkable  man,  was  as  great  a 
quack  in  gardening  as  the  famous  pill-dealers  now  are  in  mcdicme,  carried  over 
from  this  country  when  he  returned  to  England,  a  great  quantity  of  seeds  of  the 
locust,  which  he  reared  and  sold  m  immense  quantities.  In  his  "  Woodlands," 
which  appeared  about  that  time,  he  praised  its  value  and  utility  in  the  most  ex- 
aggerated terms,  affirming  •'  that  no  man  in  America  will  pretend  to  say  he 


DECIDUOUS    OENAMENIAL    TREES.  199 

The  locust  can  be  cultivated  to  advantage  as  a  timber 
tree,  only  upon  deep,  mellow,  and  rather  rich,  sandy  soils ; 
there,  its  growth  is  wonderfully  vigorous,  and  an  immense 
number  may  be  grown  upon  a  small  area  of  ground.  In 
clayey,  heavy,  or  strong  loamy  soils  the  tree  never  attains 
much  size,  and  is  extremely  liable  to  the  attacks  of  the  borer; 
which  renders  its  wood,  in  a  great  measure  valueless.  In 
particularly  favorable  situations  its  culture  may  be  made 
extremely  profitable.* 

There  are  but  two  distinct  species  of  locust  which  attain 


ever  saw  a  bit  of  it  in  a  decayed  state ;"  and  that  "  its  wood  is  absolutely 
indestructible  by  the  powers  of  earth,  air,  and  water."  "  The  time  will  come," 
he  continues,  "  and  it  will  not  be  very  distant,  when  the  locust  tree  will  be  more 
common  in  England  than  the  oak  ;  when  a  man  would  be  thought  mad  if  he 
used  anything  but  locust  in  the  construction  of  sills,  posts,  gates,  joists,  feet  for 
rick  stands,  stocks  and  axletrees  for  wheels,  hop-poles,  pales,,  or  for  anything 
where  there  is  liability  to  rot.  This  time  will  not  be  distant,  seeing  that  tha 
locust  tree  grows  so  fast.  The  next  race  of  children  but  one,  that  is  to  say, 
those  who  will  be  bom  60  years  hence,  will  think  the  locust  trees  have  always 
been  the  most  numerous  trees  in  England  ;  and  some  curious  writer  of  a  cen- 
tury or  two  hence,  will  tell  his  readers,  that  wonderful  as  it  may  seem,  '  the 
locust  was  hardly  known  in  England  until  about  the  year  1823,  when  the 
nation  was  introduced  to  a  knowledge  of  it  by  William  Cobbett.'  What  he 
will  say  of  me  besides,  I  do  not  know  ;  but  I  know  he  will  say  this  of  me.  I 
enter  this  upon  account,  therefore,  knowing  that  I  am  writing  for  centuries  to 
come."  !  !  For  a  fuller  account  of  his  locust  phrensy,  we  refer  our  readers  to 
the  very  complete  article  on  Robinia,  in  that  magnificent  work,  the  "Arboretum 
Britannicum." 

*  There  is  a  well  known  instance  of  the  profit  of  tliis  tree,  which  we  perceive 
has  found  its  way  into  the  memoirs  of  the  Agricultural  Society  of  Paris.  A 
Tarmer  on  Long  Island,  some  sixty  years  ago,  on  the  year  of  his  marriage, 
planted  fourteen  acres  of  his  farm  with  the  Yellow  locust.  When  his  eldest 
son  married  at  twenty-two,  he  cut  twelve  hundred  dollars'  worth  of  timber  from 
the  field,  as  a  marriage  portion,  which  he  gave  his  son  to  buy  a  settlement  in 
Lancaster  County,  Pennsylvania,  then  considered  a  part  of  the  "  western  coun- 
try." Three  years  after  the  locust  grove  yielded  as  much  for  a  daughter  ;  and 
in  this  way  his  whole  family  were  provided  for  ;  as  the  rapidity  with  which  the 
young  suckers  grew  up  fully  repaired  the  breaches  made  in  the  fourteen  acrea. 


200  LANDSCAPE  GARKENING 

the  size  of  trees  in  this  country,  viz.  the  Yellow  locust 
{R.  pseud-acacia),  so  called  from  the  color  of  its  wood  ;  and 
the  Honey  locust  {R.  viscosa),  a  smaller  tree,  with  reddish 
flowers,  and  branches  covered  with  a  viscid  honey-like  gum. 
Some  pretty  varieties  of  the  former  have  been  originated 
in  gardens  abroad,  among  which  the  Parasol  locust  (Var. 
r(mhraculifera)  is  decidedly  the  most  interesting.  We 
recollect  some  handsome  specimens  which  were  imported 
by  the  late  M.  Parmentier,  and  grew  in  his  garden  at 
Brooklyn,  Long  Island.  They  were  remarkable  for  their 
unique,  rounded,  umbrella-like  heads,  when  grafted  ten  or 
twelve  feet  high  on  the  common  locust. 

There  are  two  pretty  distinct  varieties  of  the  common 
Yellow  locust,  cultivated  on  the  Hudson.  That  most  fre- 
quently seen  is  the  White  variety,  which  forms  a  tall  and 
narrow  head ;  the  other  is  the  Black  locust,  with  a  broad 
and  more  spreading  head,  and  larger  trunk  ;  the  latter  may 
be  seen  in  fine  condition  at  Clermont.  It  is  a  much  finer 
ornamental  tree,  and  appears  less  liable  to  the  borer  than 
the  White  variety. 


The  Three-thorned  Acacia  Tree.     Gleditschia. 
Nut.  Ord.     Leguminosae.  Lin.  Syst.     Polygamia,  Dicecia. 

This  tree  is  often  called  the  Three-thorned  locust,  from 
some  resemblance  to  the  latter  tree.  Its  delicate,  doubly 
pinnate  leaves,  however,  are  much  more  like  those  of  the 
Acacias,  a  family  of  plants  not  hardy  enough  to  bear  our 
climate.  It  is  a  much  finer  tree  in  appearance  than  the 
common  locust,  although  the  flowers  are  greenish,  and 
inconspicuous,  instead  of  possessing  the  beauty  and  fra 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  201 

grance  of  the  latter.  There  is,  however,  a  pecuUar  ele- 
gance about  its  light  green  and  beautiful  foliage,  which 
wafts  so  gracefully  in  the  summer  breeze,  and  folds  up  on 
the  slightest  shower,  that  it  stands  far  above  that  tree  in 
our  estimation,  for  the  embellishment  of  scenery.  The 
branches  spread  out  rather  horizontally,  in  a  fine,  broad 
and  lofty  head ;  there  are  none  of  the  dead  and  unsightly 
branches  so  common  on  the  locust ;  and  the  light  feathery 
foliage,  lit  up  in  the  sunshine,  has  an  airy  and  transparent 
look,  rarely  seen  in  so  large  a  tree,  which  sometimes  pro- 
duces very  happy  effects  in  composition  with  other  trees. 
The  bark  is  of  a  pleasing  brown,  smooth  in  surface  the 
branches  are  studded  over  with  curious,  long,  triply-pointed 
thorns,  which  also  often  jut  out  in  clusters,  in  every  direc- 
tion from  the  trunk  of  the  tree,  to  the  length  of  four  or  five 
inches,  giving  it  a  most  singular  and  forbidding  look.  In 
winter,  these  and  the  long  seed-pods,  five  or  six  inches  in 
length,  which  hang  upon  the  boughs  at  that  season,  give  the 
whole  tree  a  very  distinct  character.  These  pods  contain 
a  sweetish  substance,  somewhat  resembling  honey ; 
whence  the  tree  has  in  some  places  obtained  the  name  of 
Honey  locust,  which  properly  belongs  to  Robinia  viscosa. 
Another  recommendation  of  this  tree,  is  the  variety  of 
picturesque  shapes  which  it  assumes  in  growing  up ;  some- 
times forming  a  tall  pyramidal  head  of  50  or  60  feet,  some- 
times a  low  horizontally  branched  tree,  and  at  others  it 
expands  into  a  wide  irregular  head,  quite  flattened  at  the 
summit.  It  does  not  produce  suckers  like  the  locust,  and 
may  therefore  be  introduced  into  any  part  of  the  grounds. 
When  but  a  limited  extent  is  devoted  to  a  lawn  or  garden, 
this  tree  should  be  among  the  first  to  obtain  a  place ;  as 
one  or  two  Three-thorned   Acacias,  mingled  with   other 


202  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING 

larger  and  heavier  foliage,  will  at  once  produce  a  charming 
variety. 

The  Three-thorned  Acacia  has  been  strongly  recom- 
mended for  hedges.  It  is  too  liable  to  become  thin  at  the 
bottom,  to  serve  well  for  an  outer  inclosure,  but  if  kept 
well  trimmed,  it  forms  a  capital  farm  fence  and  protection 
against  the  larger  animals,  growing  up  in  much  less  time 
than  the  hawthorn.  Like  the  locust,  it  has  the  disadvan- 
tage of  expanding  its  foliage  late  in  the  spring.  In  the 
strong  rich  soils  which  it  prefers,  it  grows  very  vigorously, 
and  is  easily  propagated  from  seeds. 

The  Three-thorned  Acacia  (G.  triacanthos)  is  the  prin- 
cipal species,  and  is  indigenous  to  the  states  west  of  the 
Alleghanies.  G.  monosperma  is  another  kind,  which  is 
scarcely  distinguishable  from  the  Three-thorned,  except  in 
having  one-seeded  pods.  The  seedlings  raised  from  G. 
triacanthos  are  often  entirely  destitute  of  thorns. 

There  is  a  fine  species  called  the  Chinese  {G.  horrida), 
with  larger  and  finer  foliage,  and  immense  triple  thorns, 
which  is  interesting  from  its  great  singularity.  A  tree  of 
this  kind  which  we  imported,  has  stood  our  coldest  winters 
perfectly  uninjured,  and  promises  to  be  beautiful  and  very 
hardy.  Some  noble  specimens  of  the  common  Three- 
thorned  Acacia  may  be  seen  upon  the  lawn  at  Hyde  Park, 
the  fine  seat  of  the  late  Dr.  Hosack. 


The  Judas  Tree.     Cercis. 

Nat.  Ord.     Leguminosae.         l,in.  Syst.     Decandria,  Monogynia. 

A  handsome  low  tree,  about  20  feet  in  height,  which  is 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  202 

found  scattered  sparsely  through  warm  sheltered  v^alleys, 
along  the  Hudson  and  other  rivers  of  the  northern  sections 
of  the  United  States,  but  most  abundantly  on  the  Ohio. 
It  is  valuable  as  an  ornamental  tree,  no  less  on  account  of 
its  exceedingly  neat  foliage,  which  is  exactly  heart-shaped, 
or  cordiform,  and  of  a  pleasing  green  tint,  than  for  its 
pretty  pink  blossoms.  These,  which  are  pea-shaped,  are 
produced  in  little  clusters  close  to  the  branches,  often  in 
great  profusion,  early  in  the  spring,  before  the  leaves  have 
expanded.  From  the  appearance  of  the  limbs  at  that 
period,  it  has  in  some  places  obtained  the  name  of  Red- 
hud.  It  is  then  one  of  the  most  ornamental  of  trees,  and, 
in  company  with  the  Dog- wood,  serves  greatly  to  enliven 
the  scene,  and  herald  the  advent  of  the  floral  season. 
These  blossoms,  according  to  Loudon  (Encycl.  of  Plants), 
having  an  agreeable  poignancy,  are  frequently  eaten  in 
salads  abroad,  and  pickled  by  the  French  families  in 
Canada.  The  name  of  Judas  tree  appears  to  have  been 
whimsically  bestowed  by  Gerard,  an  old  English  gardener, 
who  described  it  in  1596,  and  relates  that  "this  is  the  tree 
whereon  Judas  did  hange  himselfe ;  and  not  upon  the  elder 
tree,  as  it  is  said." 

There  are  two  species  in  common  cultivation ;  the 
American  (C  Canadensis)  and  the  European  (C  Sili- 
quastrum).  The  latter  much  resembles  our  native  tree. 
The  flowers,  however,  are  deeper  in  color ;  the  leaves 
darker,  and  less  pointed  at  the  extremity.  It  also  produces 
blossoms  rather  more  profusely  than  the  American  tree. 
Both  species  are  highly  worthy  of  a  place  in  the  garden,  or 
near  the  house,  where  their  pleasing  vernal  influences  maj 
be  observed. 


204  LANDSCAPE  GARDEXING. 

The  Chestnut  Tree.     Castanea. 

Nat.  Ord.     Corylaceae.         Lin.  Syst.     Monoecia,  Polyandria. 

The  chestnut,  for  its  qualities  in  Landscape  Gardening 
ranks  with  that  king  of  the  forest,  the  oak.  Like  that  tree, 
it  attains  an  enormous  size,  and  its  longevity  in  some  cases 
is  almost  equally  remarkable.  Its  fine  massy  foliage,  and 
sweet  nuts,  have  rendered  it  a  favorite  tree  since  a  very 
remote  period.  Among  the  ancients,  the  latter  were  a 
common  article  of  food. 

"  Sunt  nobis  mitia  poma, 

Castanea  moUes,  et  pressi  copia  lactis." 

VlRG.  ECL.  1, 

They  appear  to  have  been  in  general  use,  both  in  a  raw 
and  cooked  state.  In  times  of  scarcity,  they  probably 
supplied  in  some  measure  the  place  of  bread-stuffs,  and 
were  thence  highly  valued : 

"  As  for  the  thrice  three  angled  beech  nut  shell, 
Or  Chestnut's  armed  huske  and  hid  kernell. 
No  squire  durst  touch,  the  law  would  not  afford, 
Kept  for  the  court,  and  for  the  Icing's  own  board." 

Bp.  Hall,  Sat.  B.  III.  1. 

Even  to  this  day,  in  those  parts  of  France  and  Italy 
nearest  the  great  chestnut  forests  of  the  Appenines,  these 
nuts  form  a  large  portion  of  the  food  which  sustains  the 
peasantry,  where  grain  is  but  little  cultivated,  and  potatoes 
almost  unknown.  There  a  sweet  and  highly  nutritious 
flour  is  prepared  from  them,  which  makes  a  delicious 
bread.  Large  quantities  of  the  fruit  are  therefore 
annually  collected  in  those  countries,  and  dried  and  stored 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  205 

away  for  the  winter's  consumption.  Old  Evelyn  says, 
"the  bread  of  the  flour  is  exceedingly  nutritive  :  it  is  a 
robust  food,  and  makes  women  well  complexioned,  as  I 
have  read  in  a  good  author.  They  also  make  fritters  of 
chestnut  flour,  which  they  wet  with  rose-w^ater,  and 
sprinkle  with  grated  parmigans,  and  so  fry  them  in  fresh 
butter  for  a  delicate."  The  fruit  of  the  chestnut  abounds 
in  saccharine  matter ;  and  we  learn  from  a  French 
periodical,  that  experiments  have  been  made,  by  which  it 
is  ascertained  that  the  kernel  yields  nearly  sixteen  pei 
cent,  of  good  sugar. 

As  a  timber  tree,  this  is  greatly  inferior  to  the  oak,  being 
looser  grained,  and  more  liable  to  decay ;  and  the 
American  wood  is  more  open  to  this  objection  than  that 
produced  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  Atlantic.  It  is, 
however,  in  general  use  among  us,  for  posts  and  rails  in 
fencing  ;  and  when  the  former  are  charred,  they  are  found 
to  be  quite  durable. 

The  finest  natural  situations  for  this  tree  appear  to  be 
the  mountainous  slopes  of  mild  climates,  where  it  attains 
the  greatest  possible  perfection.  Michaux  informs  us,  that 
the  most  superb  and  lofty  chestnuts  in  America  are  to  be 
found  in  such  situations,  in  the  forests  of  the  Carolinas. 
Abroad,  every  one  will  call  to  mind  the  far-famed  chestnuts 
of  Mount  Etna,  of  wonderful  age  and  extraordinary  size. 
The  great  chestnut  there,  has  excited  the  surprise  of 
numerous  travellers  ;  at  present,  however,  it  appears  to  be 
scarcely  more  than  a  mere  shell,  the  wreck  of  former 
greatness.  When  visited  by  M.  Houel  {Arhoretum  Brit), 
it  was  in  a  state  of  decay,  having  lost  the  greater  part  of 
its  branches,  and  its  trunk  was  quite  hollow.  A  house  was 
erected  in  the  interior,  and  some  country  people  resided  iD 


206  LANDSCAPE    GARDENING. 

it,  with  an  oven,  in  which,  according  to  the  custom  of  I  he 
country,  they  dried  chestnuts,  filberts,  and  other  fruits, 
which  they  wished  to  preserve  for  winter  use ;  using  as 
fuel,  when  they  could  find  no  other,  pieces  cut  with  a 
hatchet  from  the  intei'ior  of  the  tree.  In  Brydone's  time, 
in  1770,  this  tree  measured  two  hundred  and  four  feet  in 
circumference.  He  says  it  had  the  appearance  of  five 
distinct  trees  ;  but  he  was  assured  that  the  space  was  once 
filled  with  solid  timber,  and  there  was  no  bark  on  the 
inside.  This  circumstance  of  an  old  trunk,  hollow  in  the 
interior,  becoming  separated  so  as  to  have  the  appearance 
of  being  the  remains  of  several  distinct  trees,  is  frequently 
met  with  in  the  case  of  very  old  mulberry  trees  in  Great 
Britain,  and  olive  trees  in  Italy.  Kircher,  about  a  century 
before  Brydone,  affirms  that  an  entire  flock  of  sheep  might 
be  inclosed  within  the  Etna  chestnut,  as  in  a  fold.*  (Ar- 
horetum  Brit.  p.  1988.) 

In  considering  the  chestnut  as  highly  adapted  to 
ornament  the  grounds  of  extensive  country  residences, 
much  that  we  have  already  said  of  the  oak  will  apply  to 
this  tree.  When  young,  its  smooth  stem,  clear  and  bright 
foliage,  and  lively  aspect,  when  adorned  with  the  numerous 
light  greenish  yellow  blossoms,  which  project  beyond  the 
mass  of  leaves,  render  it  a  graceful  and  beautiful  tree. 

*  One  of  the  most  celebrated  Chestnut  trees  on  record,  is  tliat  called  the 
Tortworth  Chestnut,  in  England.  In  1772,  Lord  Ducie,  the  owner,  had  a 
portrait  of  it  taken,  which  was  accompanied  by  the  following  description : 
"  The  east  view  of  the  ancient  Chestnut  tree  at  Tortworth,  in.  the  county  ol 
Gloucester,  which  measures  nineteen  yards  in  circxmiference,  and  is  mentioned 
by  Sir  Robert  Aikins  in  his  history  of  that  county,  as  a  famous  tree  in  King 
John's  reign  :  and  by  Mr.  Evelyn  in  his  Sylva,  to  have  been  so  remarkable  in 
the  reign  of  King  Stephen,  1135,  as  then  to  be  called  the  great  Chestnut  of 
Tortworth  ;  from  which  it  may  reasonably  be  presumed  to  have  been  standing 
before  the  Conquest,  1066."     This  tree  is  still  standing. 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  207 

It  has  long  been  a  favorite  with  the  poets  for  its  grateful 
shade ;  and  as  the  roots  run  deep,  the  soil  beneath  it  is 
sufficiently  rich  and  sheltered  to  afford  an  asylum  for  the 
minutest  beauties  of  the  woods.  Tennyson  sweetly 
says  : — 

"  That  slope  beneath  the  chestnut  tall 
Is  wooed  with  choicest  breaths  of  air, 
Methinks  that  I  could  tell  you  all 
The  cowslips  and  the  king  cups  there." 

When  old,  its  huge  trunk,  wide-spread  branches,  lofty  head, 
and  irregular  outline,  all  contribute  to  render  it  a 
picturesque  tree  of  the  very  first  class.  In  that  state, 
when  standing  alone,  with  free  room  to  develope  itself  on 
every  side,  like  the  oak,  it  gives  a  character  of  dignity, 
majesty,  and  grandeur,  to  the  scene,  beyond  the  power  of 
most  trees  to  confer.  It  is  well  known  that  the  favorite 
tree  of  Salvator  Rosa,  and  one  which  was  most  frequently 
introduced  with  a  singularly  happy  effect  into  his  wild  and 
picturesque  compositions,  was  the  chestnut ;  sometimes 
a  massy  and  bold  group  of  its  verdure,  but  oftener  an  old 
and  storm-rifted  giant,  half  leafless,  or  a  barren  trunk 
coated  with  a  rich  verdure  of  mosses  and  lichens. 

The  chestnut  in  maturity,  like  the  oak,  has  a  great 
variety  of  outline  ;  and  no  trees  are  better  fitted  than 
these  for  the  formation  of  grand  groups,  heavy  masses, 
or  wide  outlines  of  foliage.  A  higher  kind  of  beauty,  with 
more  dignity  and  variety,  can  be  formed  of  these  two 
genera  of  trees  when  disposed  in  grand  masses,  than  with 
any  other  forest  trees  of  temperate  climates ;  perhaps  we 
may  say  of  any  climate. 

There  is  so  little  difference  in  the  common  Sweet 
chestnut  {Castanea  vesca)  of  both  hemispheres,  that  they 


r»\v'«v^/ A*4S^^^*^»^V'^V7''*'»^*'*  V// v.\:%  V7/ '»'»^^^ 

.*>vv.»^;.  A  .\V//#  •  v%\V/.  .  •.vvV»Vy  .  ♦.4.\».V//..  .%\*.'»Vy  .•.%%*•%♦/ 


208  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

are  generally  considered  the  same  species.  Varieties  have 
been  produced  in  Europe,  which  far  surpass  our  common 
chestnuts  of  the  woods  in  size,  though  not  in  delicacy  and 
richness  of  flavor.  Those  cultivated  for  the  table  in 
France,  are  known  by  the  name  of  marrons.  These 
improved  sorts  of  the  Spanish  chestnut  bear  fruit  nearly 
as  large  as  that  of  the  Horse-chestnut,  inferior  in 
sweetness,  when  raw,  to  our  wild  species,  but  delicious 
when  roasted.  The  Spanish  chestnut  thrives  well,  and 
forms  a  large  tree,  south  of  the  Highlands  of  the  Hudson, 
but  is  rather  tender  north  of  this  neighborhood.  A  tree 
in  the  grounds  at  Presque  Isle,  the  seat  of  William 
Denning,  Esq.,  Dutchess  Co.,  is  now  40  feet  high.  They 
may  be  procured  from  the  nurseries,  and  we  can  hardly 
recommend  to  our  planters  more  acceptable  additions  to 
our  nut-bearing  forest  trees. 

The  Chinquapin,  or  Dwarf  chestnut  {C.  pumila),  is 
a  curious  low  bush,  from  four  to  six  feet  high.  The  leaves 
are  nearly  the  size  of  the  ordinary  chestnut,  or  rather 
smaller,  and  the  fruit  about  two-thirds  as  large.  It  is  indi- 
genous to  all  the  states  south  of  Pennsylvania,  and  is  often 
found  in  great  abundance.  It  is  a  curious  little  tree,  or 
more  properly  a  shrub,  and  merits  a  place  in  the  garden  ; 
or  it  may  be  advantageously  planted  for  underwood  in 
a  group  of  large  trees. 

As  the  chestnut,  like  the  oak,  forms  strong  tap-roots,  it  is 
removed  with  some  difficulty.  The  finest  trees  are  pro- 
duced from  the  nut,  and  their  growth  is  much  more  rapid 
when  young,  than  that  of  the  transplanted  tree.  It  prefers 
a  deep  sandy  loam,  rather  moist  than  dry ;  and  will  not, 
like  many  forest  trees,  accommodate  itself  to  wet  and  low 
situations. 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  209 

The  Osage  Orange  Tree.     Madura. 
Nat.  Ord.     Urticaceae.         Lin.  Syst.     DicEcia,  Tetrandria. 

'j'iiis  interesting  tree  is  found  growing  wild  on  the 
Arkansas  River,  and  other  western  tributaries  of  the 
Mississippi,  south  of  St.  Louis,  where,  according  to  Mr. 
Nuttall,  it  attains  the  height  of  50  or  60  feet.  The 
branches  are  rather  Hght-colored,  and  armed  with  spines 
(produced  at  every  joint)  about  an  inch  and  a  half  long. 
The  leaves  are  long,  ovate,  and  acuminate,  or  pointed 
at  the  extremity  ;  they  are  deep  green,  and  more  glossy 
and  bright  than  those  of  the  orange.  The  blossoms  are 
greenish ;  and  the  fruit  is  about  the  shape  and  size  of  a 
large  orange,  but  the  surface  much  rougher  than  that  fruit. 
In  the  south,  we  are  told,  it  assumes  a  deep  yellow  color, 
and,  at  a  short  distance,  strikingly  resembles  the  common 
orange ;  the  specimens  of  fruit  which  we  have  seen 
growing  in  Philadelphia,  did  not  assume  that  fine  color ; 
but  the  appearance  of  the  tree  laden  with  it,  is  not  unlike 
that  of  a  large  orange  tree.  It  was  first  transplanted  into 
our  gardens  from  a  village  of  the  Osage  tribe  of  Indians, 
whence  the  common  name  of  Osage  orange.  The  intro- 
duction of  this  tree  was  one  of  the  favorable  results  of 
Lewis  and  Clarke's  Expedition.  It  was  named  by  them 
in  honor  of  the  late  Wm.  Maclure,  Esq.,  President  of  the 
American  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences. 

The  wood   is  fine    grained,  yellow  in    color,  and   takes 

a  brilliant  polish.     It  is  also  very  strong  and  elastic,  and  on 

this    account   the    Indians  of  the  wide   district   to  which 

this   tree   is    indigenous,  employ    it  extensively  for  bows, 

greatly  preferring  it  to  any  other  timber.     Hence  its  com- 

14 


210  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

mon  name  among  the  white  inhabitants  is  Bodac,  a. cor 
ruption  of  the  term  hois  d'arc  (how-wood),  of  the  French 
settlers.  A  fine  yellow  dye  is  extracted  from  the  wood, 
similar  to  that  of  the  Fustic. 

As  the  Osage  orange  belongs  to  the  monoecious  class  of 
plants,  it  does  not  perfect  its  fruit  unless  both  the  male  and 
female  trees  are  growing  in  the  same  neighborhood. 
Many  have  believed  the  fruit  to  be  eatable,  both  from  its 
fine  appearance,  and  from  its  affinity  with  and  resemblance 
to  that  of  the  bread-fruit ;  but  all  attempts  to  render  it 
pleasant,  either  cooked  or  in  a  raw  state,  have  hitherto 
failed :  it  is  therefore  probably  inedible,  though  not  injuri- 
ous. Perhaps  when  fully  ripened,  some  mode  of  preparing 
it  by  baking  or  otherwise,  may  render  it  palatable. 

As  an  ornamental  tree,  the  Osasre  orano;e  is  rather  too 
loose  in  the  disposition  of  its  wide-spreading  branches,  to  be 
called  beautiful  in  its  form.  But  the  bright  glossy  hue  of 
its  foliage,  and  especially  the  unique  appearance  of  a  good 
sized  tree  when  covered  with  the  large,  orange-like  fruit, 
render  it  one  of  the  most  interesting  of  our  native  trees  ; 
while  it  has  the  same  charm  of  rarity  as  an  exotic,  since  it 
was  introduced  from  the  far  west,  and  is  yet  but  little 
planted  in  the  United  States.  On  a  small  lawn,  where  but 
few  trees  are  needed,  and  where  it  is  desirable  that  the 
species  employed  should  all  be  as  distinct  as  possible,  to 
give  the  whole  as  much  variety  as  can  be  obtained  in 
a  limited  space,  such  trees  should  be  selected  as  will  not 
only  be  ornamental,  but  combine  some  other  charm, 
association,  or  interest.  Among  such  trees,  we  would  by 
aJl  means  give  the  Osage  orange  a  foremost  place.  It  has 
the  additional  recommendation  of  being  a  fine  shade  tree 
and  of  producing  an  excellent  and  durable  wood. 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  211 

The  stout  growth  and  strong  thorns  of  this  tree  have 
been  thought  indicative  of  its  usefulness  for  the  making  of 
hedges :  a  method  of  fencing,  which  sooner  or  later  must 
be  adopted  in  many  parts  of  this  country  .  and  from  the 
experiments  which  we  have  seen  made  with  plants  of  the 
Osage  orange,  we  think  it  likely  to  answer  a  very  valuable 
purpose ;  especially  in  the  middle  and  southern  states. 
The  Messrs.  Landreth  of  Philadelphia  have  lately  offered 
many  thousands  of  them  to  the  public  at  a  low  rate,  and 
we  hope  to  see  the  matter  fairly  tested  in  various  parts  of 
the  Union. 

A  rich  deep  loam  is  the  soil  best  adapted  to  the  growth 
of  this  tree  ;  and  as  it  is  rather  tender  when  young  (though 
quite  hardy  when  it  attains  a  considerable  size)  it  should, 
as  far  as  possible,  be  planted  in  a  rather  sheltered  situation. 
A  dry  soil  is  preferable,  if  it  must  be  placed  in  a  cold 
aspect,  as  all  plants  not  perfectly  hardy  are  much  injured 
by  the  late  growth,  caused  by  an  excess  of  moisture  and 
consequent  upon  an  immature  state  of  the  wood,  which  is 
unable  to  resist  the  eifects  of  a  severe  winter. 


The  Mulberry  Tree.     Morus. 
Nat.  Ord.     Urticaceae.         Lin.  Syst.     Moncecia,  Tetrandria. 

The  three  principal  species  of  the  Mulberry,  are  the 
common  Red  American,  the  European  Black,  and  the 
White  mulberries.  None  of  them  are  truly  handsome  in 
scenery ;  and  the  two  latter  are  generally  low  spreading 
trees,  valued  entirely  for  the  excellency  of  the  fruit,  or  the 


212  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING, 

suitableness  of  the  foliage  for  feeding  silkworms.  Our 
common  mulberry,  however,  in  free,  open  situations,  forms 
a  large,  wide-spreading,  horizontally  branched,  and  not 
inelegant  tree  :  the  rough,  heart-shaped  leaves  with  which 
it  is  thickly  clothed,  afford  a  deep  shade ;  and  it  groups  well 
with  the  lime,  the  catalpa,  and  many  other  round-headed 
trees.  We  consider  it,  therefore,  duly  entitled  to  a  place 
in  all  extensive  plantations  ;  while  the  pleasant  flavor  of 
its  slightly  acid,  dark  red  fruit,  will  recommend  it  to  those 
A'ho  wish  to  add  to  the  delicacies  of  the  dessert.  The 
timber  of  our  wild  mulberry  tree  is  of  the  very  first  quality  ; 
when  fuHy  seasoned,  it  takes  a  dull  lemon-colored  hue,  and 
is  scarcely  less  durable  than  the  locust  or  Live  oak.  Like 
those  trees,  it  is  much  valued  by  ship-builders  ;  and  at 
Philadelphia  and  Baltimore  it  commands  a  high  price,  for 
the  frame-work,  knees,  floor-timbers,  and  tree-nails  of 
vessels.  The  Red  mulberry  is  much  slower  in  its  growth 
than  the  locust ;  but  so  far  as  we  are  aware  it  is  not  liable 
to  the  attacks  of  any  insect  destructive  to  its  timber  ;  and 
it  would  probably  be  found  profitable  to  cultivate  it  as  a 
timber  tree.  The  locust,  it  will  be  remembered,  grows 
thriftily  only  on  peculiar  soils,  loose,  dry,  and  mellow  ;  the 
Red  mulberry  prefers  deep,  moist,  and  rich  situations.  No 
extensive  experiments,  so  far  as  we  can  learn,  have  been 
made  in  its  culture ;  but  we  would  recommend  it  to  the 
particular  attention  of  those  who  have  facilities  for  planta- 
tions of  this  kind. 

The  Black  mulberry  of  Europe  {Morus  nigra)  is  a  low, 
slow-growing  tree,  with  rough  leaves,  somewhat  resembling 
those  of  our  Red  mulberry,  but  more  coarsely  serrated,  and 
often  found  divided  into  four  or  five  lobes  ;  while  the  leaves, 
»vhich  are  not  heart-shaped  on  our  nat've  species,  are  gene- 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  213 

rally  three-lobed.  The  European  mulberry  bears  a  fruit 
four  or  five  times  as  large  as  the  American,  full  of  rich; 
sweet  juice.  It  has  long  been  a  favorite  in  England,  and 
is  one  of  the  most  healthy  and  delicious  fruits  of  the  season, 
Glover  says : 

"  There  the  flushing  peach, 


The  apple,  citron,  almond,  pear,  and  date, 
Pomegranates,  purple  mulberry,  and  fig. 
From  interlacing  branches  mix  their  hues 
And  scents,  the  passengers'  delight." 

Leonid.  B.  II. 

We  regret  that  so  excellent  a  fruit  should  be  so  little 
cultivated  here.  It  succeeds  extremely  well  in  the  middle 
states  ;  and  as  it  ripens  at  the  very  period  in  midsummer 
when  fruits  are  scarcest,  there  can  be  no  more  welcome 
addition  to  our  pomonal  treasures,  than  its  deep  purple  and 
luscious  berries.  According  to  Loudon,  it  is  a  tree  of  great 
durability  ;  in  proof  of  which  he  quotes  a  specimen  at  Sion 
House,  300  years  old,  which  is  supposed  to  have  been 
planted  in  the  16th  century  by  the  botanist  Turner. 

The  White  mulberry  {M.  alba)  is  the  species  upon  the 
leaves  of  which  the  silkworms  are  fed.  The  fruit  is  insipid 
and  tasteless,  and  the  tree  is  but  httle  cultivated  to  embellish 
ornamental  plantations,  though  one  of  the  most  useful  in 
the  world,  when  its  importance  in  the  production  of  silk  is 
taken  into  account.  There  are  a  great  number  of  varieties 
of  this  species  to  be  found  in  the  different  nurseries  and  silk 
plantations  ;  among  them  the  Chinese  mulberry  (M.  multi- 
caulis)  grows  rapidly,  but  scarcely  forms  more  than  a  large 
shrub  at  the  north ;  and  its  very  large,  tender,  and  soft 
green  foliage  is  interesting  in  a  large  collection.  The  fruit 
is,  we  believe,  of  no  importance  ;  but  it  is  the  most  valuable 


214  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

of  all  mulberries  as  food  for  the  silkworm,  while  its  growth 
is  the  most  vigorous,  and  its  leaves  more  easily  gathered 
than  those  of  any  other  tree  of  the  genus. 


The  Paper  Mulberry  Tree.      Broussonetia. 

Nat.   Ord.     Urticacese.  Lin.  Syst.     DicEcia,  Tetrandria. 

The  Paper  mulberry  is  an  exotic  tree  of  a  low  growth, 
rarely  exceeding  twenty-five  or  thirty  feet,  indigenous  to 
Japan  and  the  South  Sea  Islands,  but  very  common  in  our 
gardens.  It  is  remarkable  for  the  great  variety  of  forms 
exhibited  in  its  foliage  ;  as  upon  young  trees  it  is  almost 
impossible  to  find  two  exactly  alike,  though  the  prevailing 
outhnes  are  either  heart-shaped,  or  more  or  less  deeply  cut 
or  lobed.  These  leaves  are  considered  valueless  for  feed- 
ing the  silkworm  ;  but  in  the  South  Seas  the  bark  is  woven 
into  dresses  worn  by  the  females ;  and  in  China  and  Japan 
extensive  use  is  made  of  it  in  the  manufacture  of  a  paper 
of  the  softest  and  most  beautiful  texture.  This  is  fabricated 
from  the  inner  bark  of  the  young  shoots,  which  is  first  boiled 
to  a  soft  pulp,  and  then  submitted  to  processes  greatly 
similar  to  those  performed  in  our  paper-mills.  This  tree 
blossoms  in  spring  and  ripens  its  fruit  in  the  month  of 
August.  The  latter  is  dark  scarlet,  and  quite  singular  and 
ornamental,  though  of  no  value.  The  genus  is  dicecious  ; 
and  the  reason  why  so  few  fruit-bearing  trees  are  seen  in 
the  United  States,  is  because  we  generally  cultivate  only 
one  of  the  sexes,  the  female.  M.  Parmentier,  however,  who 
introduced  the  male  plant  from  Europe,  disseminated  it  in 


r 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  215 

several  parts  of  the  country  ;  and  the  beauty  of  the  tree 
has  thereby  been  augmented  by  the  interest  which  it 
possesses  when  laden  with  its  long,  hairy  berries. 

The  value  of  the  Paper  mulberry,  in  ornamental  planta- 
tions, arises  from  its  exotic  look,  as  compared  with  other 
trees,  from  the  singular  diversity  of  its  foliage,  the  beauty 
of  its  reddish  berries,  and  from  the  rapidity  of  its  growth. 
It  is  deficient  in  hardiness  for  a  colder  climate  than  that  of 
New  York  ;  but  further  south  it  is  considerably  esteemed 
as  a  shade-tree  for  lining  the  side- walks  in  cities.  In  win- 
ter its  light  fawn  or  ash-colored  bark,  mottled  with  patches 
of  a  darker  grey,  contrasts  agreeably  with  other  trees.  It 
has  little  picturesque  beauty,  and  should  never  be  planted 
in  quantities,  but  only  in  scattered  specimens,  to  give 
interest  and  variety  to  a  walk  in  the  lawn  or  shrubbery. 


The  Sweet  Gum  Tree.     Liquidambar. 
IS'at.  Ord.     Platanaceae.  Lin.  Syst.     Moncucia,  Polyandria. 

According  to  Michaux,*  the  Sweet  gum  is  one  of  our 
most  extensively  diffused  trees.  On  the  seashore  it  is  seen 
as  far  north  as  Portsmouth  ;  and  it  extends  as  far  south  as 
the  Gulf  of  Mexico  and  the  Isthmus  of  Darien.  In  many 
of  the  southern  states  it  is  one  of  the  commonest  trees  of  the 
forest ;  it  is  rarely  seen,  however,  along  the  banks  of  the 
Hudson  (except  in  New  Jersey),  or  other  large  streams  of 
New  York.  It  is  not  unlike  the  maple  in  general  appear- 
ance, and  its  palmate,  five-lobed  leaves  are  in  outline  much 

»  a.  A.  Sylva,  i.  315. 


21G  LANDSCAPE    GARDEMNG. 

like  the  Sugar  maple,  though  darker  in  color  and  firmer  in 
texture.  It  may  also  be  easily  distinguished  from  that  tree, 
by  the  curious  appearance  of  its  secondary  branches,  which 
have  a  peculiar  roughness,  owing  to  the  bark  attaching 
itself  in  plates  edgewise  to  the  trunk,  instead  of  laterally,  as 
in  the  usual  manner.  The  fruit  is  globular,  somewhat 
resembling  that  of  the  buttonwood,  but  much  rougher,  and 
bristling  with  points.  The  male  and  female  catkins  appear 
on  different  branches  of  the  same  tree  early  in  spring. 

This  tree  grows  in  great  perfection  in  the  forests  of  New 
Spain.  It  was  first  described  by  a  Spanish  naturalist,  Dr. 
Hernandez,  who  observed  that  a  fragrant  and  transparent 
gum  issued  from  its  trunk  in  that  country,  to  which,  from 
its  appearance,  he  gave  the  name  of  liquid  amber.  This  is 
now  the  common  name  of  the  tree  in  Europe  ;  and  the  gum 
is  at  present  an  article  of  export  from  Mexico,  being  chiefly 
valued  in  medicine  as  a  styptic,  and  for  its  healing  and 
balsamic  properties.  "  This  substance,  which  in  the  shops 
is  sometimes  called  the  white  balsam  of  Peru,  or  liquid 
storax,  is,  when  it  first  issues  from  the  tree,  perfectly  liquid 
and  clear,  white,  with  a  slight  tinge  of  yellow,  quite  bal- 
samic ;  and  having  a  most  agreeable  fragrance,  resembling 
that  of  ambergris  or  styrax.  It  is  stimulant  and  aromatic, 
and  has  long  been  used  in  France  as  a  perfume,  especially 
for  gloves."*  In  the  middle  states  a  fragrant  substance 
sometimes  exudes  from  the  leaves,  and,  by  incision,  small 
quantities  of  the  gum  may  be  procured  from  the  trunk  ;  but 
a  warmer  climate  appears  to  be  necessar}-  to  its  production 
in  considerable  quantities. 

We  hardly  know  a  more  beautiful  tree  than  the  Liquid 

*  Arboretum  Brit.  2051. 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  217 

amber  in  every  stage  of  its  growth.,  and  during  every  season 
of  the  year.  Its  outline  is  not  picturesque  or  graceful,  but 
simply  beautiful,  more  approaching  that  of  the  maple  than 
any  other  :  it  is,  therefore,  a  highly  pleasing,  round-headed 
or  tapering  tree,  which  unites  and  harmonizes  well  with 
almost  any  others  in  composition  ;  but  the  chief  beauty  lies 
in  the  foliage.  During  the  whole  of  the  summer  months 
it  preserves,  unsoiled,  that  dark  glossy  freshness  which  is 
so  delightful  to  the  eye ;  while  the  singular,  regularly  palmate 
form  of  the  leaves  readily  distinguishes  it  from  the  common 
trees  of  a  plantation.  But  in  autumn  it  assumes  its  gayest 
livery,  and  is  decked  in  colors  almost  too  bright  and  vivid 
for  foliage  ;  forming  one  of  the  most  brilliant  objects  in 
American  scenery  at  that  period  of  the  year.  The  pre- 
vailing tint  of  the  foliage  is  then  a  deep  purplish  red,  unlike 
any  symptom  of  decay,  and  quite  as  rich  as  is  commonly 
seen  in  the  darker  blossoms  of  a  Dutch  parterre.  This  is 
sometimes  varied  by  a  shade  deeper  or  lighter,  and  occa- 
sionally an  orange  tint  is  assumed.  When  planted  in  the 
neighborhood  of  our  fine  maples,  ashes,  and  other  trees 
remarkable  for  their  autumnal  coloring,  the  effect,  in  a 
warm,  dry  autumn,  is  almost  magical.  Whoever  has 
travelled  through  what  are  called  the  pine  barrens  of  New 
Jersey  in  such  a  season,  must  have  been  struck  with  the 
gay  tints  of  the  numberless  forest  trees,  which  line  the 
roads  through  those  sandy  plains,  and  with  the  conspicuous 
beauty  of  the  Sweet  gum,  or  Liquidamber. 

The  bark  of  this  tree  when  full  grown,  or  nearly  so,  is 
exceedingly  rough  and  furrowed,  like  that  of  the  oak.  The 
wood  is-  fine-grained,  and  takes  a  good  polish  in  cabinet 
work ;  though  it  is  not  so  durable,  nor  so  much  esteemed 
for  such  purposes,  as  that  of  the  Black  walnut  and  some 


218  LANDSCAPE    GARDENING 

Other  native  trees.     The  average  height  ol"  lull  grown  trees 
s  about  35  or  40  feet. 

Liquidamhar  styracijlua  is  the  only  North  American 
species.  It  grows  most-rapidly  in  moist  or  even  wet  situa- 
tions, though  it  will  accommodate  itself  to  a  drier  soil. 


The  Walnut  Tree.     Juglans. 
Nat.  Ord.     Juglandaceae.  Lin.  Syst.     Moncecia,  Polyandria. 

The  three  trees  which  properly  come  under  this  head 
and  belong  to  the  genus  Juglans,  are  the  Black  walnut,  the 
European  walnut,  and  the  Butternut. 

The  Black  walnut  is  one  of  the  largest  trees  of  our  native 
forests.  In  good  soils  it  often  attains  a  stature  of  60  or  70 
feet,  and  a  diameter  of  three  or  four  feet  in  the  trunk,  with 
a  corresponding  amplitude  of  branches.  The  leaves,  about 
a  foot  or  eighteen  inches  in  length,  are  composed  of  six  or 
eight  pairs  of  opposite  leaflets,  terminated  by  an  odd  one. 
They  contain  a  very  strong  aromatic  odor,  which  is  emitted 
plentifully  when  they  are  bruised.  The  large  nut,  alwavs 
borne  on  the  extremity  of  the  young  shoots,  is  round,  and 
covered  with  a  thick  husk  ;  which,  instead  of  separating 
into  pieces,  and  falling  off  like  those  of  the  hickory,  rots 
away  and  decays  gradually.  The  kernel  of  the  Black 
walnut,  too  well  known  to  need  any  description  here,  is 
highly  esteemed,  and  is  even  considered  by  some  persons 
to  possess  a  finer  flavor  than  any  other  walnut. 

The  timber  of  this  tree  is  very  valuable  :  when  well  sea- 
soned it  is  as  durable  as  the  White  oak,  and  is  less  liable 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  219 

to  tlie  attacks  of  sea-worms,  etc.,  than  almost  any  other ;  it 
is,  therefore,  highly  esteemed  in  naval  architecture  for 
certain  purposes.  But  its  great  value  is  in  cabinet  work. 
Its  color,  when  exposed  to  the  air,  is  a  fine,  rich,  dark 
brown,  beautifully  veined  in  certain  parts  ;  and  as  it  takes 
a  brilliant  polish,  it  is  coming  into  general  use  in  the 
United  States  for  furniture,  as  well  as  for  the  interioj 
finishing  of  houses. 

The  Black  walnut  has  strong  claims  upon  the  Landscape 
Gardener,  as  it  is  one  of  the  grandest  and  most  massive 
trees  which  he  can  employ.  When  full  grown  it  is  scarcely 
inferior  in  the  boldness  of  its  ramification  or  the  amplitude 
of  its  head  to  the  oak  or  chestnut ;  and  what  it  lacks  in 
spirited  outline  when  compared  with  those  trees,  is  fully 
compensated,  in  our  estimation,  by  its  superb  and  heavy 
masses  of  foliage,  which  catch  and  throw  oflf  the  broad 
lights  and  shadows  in  the  finest  manner.  When  the  Black 
walnut  stands  alone  on  a  deep  fertile  soil  it  becomes  a  truly 
majestic  tree  ;  and  its  lower  branches  often  sweep  the 
ground  in  a  graceful  curve,  which  gives  additional  beauty 
to  its  whole  expression.  It  is  admirably  adapted  to  exten- 
sive lawns,  parks,  or  plantations,  where  there  is  no  want 
of  room  for  the  attainment  of  its  full  size  and  fair  propor- 
tions. Its  rapid  growth  and  umbrageous  foliage  also 
recommend  it  for  wide  public  streets  and  avenues. 

The  European  walnut  (/.  regia),  or,  as  it  is  generally 
termed  here,  the  Madeira  nut,  is  one  of  the  most  common 
cultivated  trees  of  Europe,  where  it  was  introduced  origi- 
nally from  Persia.  It  differs  from  our  Black  walnut  (which, 
however,  it  much  resembles)  in  the  smooth,  grey  bark  of 
the  stem,  the  leaves  composed  of  three  or  four  pair  of 
leaflets,  and  in  the  very  thin-shelleJ  fruit,  which,  though 


220  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

not  exceeding  the  Black  walnut  in  size,  yet  contains  a 
much  larger  kernel,  which  is  generally  considered  more 
delicate  in  flavor.  In  the  interior  of  France  orchards  of 
the  walnut  are  planted,  and  a  considerable  commerce  is 
carried  on  in  its  products,  consisting  chiefly  of  the  fruit,  of 
which  large  quantities  are  consumed  in  all  parts  of  Europe. 
The  wood  is  greatly  used  in  the  manufacture  of  gun-stocks, 
and  in  cabinet-making  (though  it  is  much  inferior  to  the 
American  walnut  for  this  purpose)  ;  and  the  oil  extracted 
from  the  kernel  is  in  high  estimation  for  mixing  with  deli- 
cate colors  used  in  painting  and  other  purposes. 

The  European  walnut  is  a  noble  tree  in  size,  and  thickly 
clad  in  foliage.  It  is  much  esteemed  as  a  shade  tree  by  the 
Dutch  ;  and  Evelyn,  who  is  an  enthusiastic  admirer  of  its 
beauties,  mentions  their  fondness  for  this  tree  as  in  the  high- 
est degree  praiseworthy.  "  The  Be7'gstras  [Bergstrasse'], 
which  extends  from  Heidelberg  to  Darmstadt,  is  all  planted 
with  walnuts  ;  for  as  by  an  ancient  law  the  Borderers  were 
obliged  to  nurse  up  and  take  care  of  them,  and  that  chiefly 
for  their  ornament  and  shade,  so  as  a  man  may  ride  for 
many  miles  about  that  country  under  a  continual  arbor  or 
close  walk, — the  traveller  both  refreshed  with  the  fruit  and 
shade.  How  much  such  public  plantations  improve  the 
glory  and  wealth  of  a  nation !  In  several  places  betwixt 
Hanau  and  Frankfort  in  Germany,  no  young  farmer  is 
permitted  to  marry  a  wife  till  he  bring  proof  that  he  hath 
planted,  and  is  the  father  of  a  stated  number  of  walnut 
trees."* 

The   nuts   are    imported    into    this   country   in   great 

»  Hunter's  Evelyn,  p.  168. 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  221 

quantities  ;  and  as  they  are  chiefly  brought  from  Spain 
and  the  Madeiras,  they  are  here  ahnost  entirely  known  by 
the  name  of  the  Madeira  nut.  The  tree  is  but  little 
cultivated  among  us,  though  highly  deserving  more 
extensive  favor,  both  on  account  of  its  value  and  beauty. 
It  grows  well  in  the  climate  of  the  middle  states,  and  bears 
freely ;  a  specimen  eighteen  or  twenty  years  old,  in  the 
garden  of  the  author,  has  reached  thirty-five  feet  in  height, 
and  bears  two  or  three  bushels  of  fine  fruit  annually  ;  from 
which  we  have  already  propagated  several  hundred 
individuals.     It  is  not  perfectly  hardy  north  of  this. 

As  an  ornamental  tree,  Gilpin  remarks,  that  the  warm 
russet  hue  of  its  young  foliage  makes  a  pleasing  variety 
among  the  vivid  green  of  other  trees,  about  the  end  of 
May  ;  and  the  same  variety  is  maintained  in  summer,  by 
the  contrast  of  its  yellowish  hue,  when  mixed  in  any 
quantity  with  trees  of  a  darker  tint.  It  stands  best  alone, 
as  the  early  loss  of  its  foliage  is  then  of  less  consequence, 
and  its  ramification  is  generally  beautiful. 

The  Butternut  (/.  cathartica)  belongs  to  this  section, 
and  is  chiefly  esteemed  for  its  fruit,  which  abounds  in  oil, 
and  is  very  rich  and  sweet.  The  foliage  somewhat 
resembles  that  of  the  Black  walnut,  though  the  leaflets  are 
smaller  and  narrower.  The  form  of  the  nut,  however,  is 
strikingly  different,  being  oblong,  oval,  and  narrowed  to  a 
point  at  the  extremity.  Unlike  the  walnut,  the  husk  is 
covered  with  a  sticky  gum,  and  the  surface  of  the  nut  is 
much  rougher  than  any  other  of  the  walnut  genus.  The 
bark  of  the  butternut  is  grey,  and  the  tops  of  old  trees 
generally  have  a  flattened  appearance.  It  is  frequently 
an   uncoutl     ill-shaj)en,    and   ugly    tree    in    form,    though 


222  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

occasionally,  also,  quite  striking  and  picturesque.     And  it 
is  well  worthy  of  a  place  for  the  excellence  of  its  fruit.* 


The   Hickory  Tree.     Carya. 
Nat.  Ord.     Juglandaceae.         Lin.  Syst.     Moncecia,  Polyandria. 

The  hickories  are  fine  and  lofty  North  American  trees, 
highly  valuable  for  their  wood,  and  the  excellent  fruit 
borne  by  some  of  the  species.  The  timber  is  extremely 
elastic,  and  very  heavy,  possessing  great  strength  and 
tenacity.  It  is  not  much  employed  in  architecture,  as  it  is 
peculiarly  liable  to  the  attacks  of  worms,  and  decays 
quickly  when  exposed  to  moisture.  But  it  is  very  exten- 
sively employed  for  all  purposes  requiring  great  elasticity 
and  strength  ;  as  for  axletrees,  screws,  the  wooden  rings 
used  upon  the  rigging  of  vessels,  whip-handles,  and  axe- 
handles  ;  and  an  immense  quantity  of  the  young  poles  are 
employed  in  the  manufacture  of  hoops,  for  which  they 
are  admirably  adapted. 

For  fuel,  no  American  wood  is  equal  to  this  in  the 
brilliancy  with  which  it  burns,  or  in  the  duration  or  amount 
of  heat  given  out  by  it :  it  therefore  commands  the  highest 
price  in  market  for  that  purpose. 

The   hickories   are   nearly  allied   to   the   walnuts ;  the 

*  Loudon  errs  greatly  in  his  Arboretiun,  in  supposing  the  butternut  to  bo 
identical  with  the  Black  walnut  :  no  trees  in  the  whole  American  forest  are 
more  easily  distinguished  at  first  fiight.  He  also  states  the  fruit  to  be  rancid 
and  of  little  value  ;  but  no  American  lad  of  a  dozen  years  will  accord  with 
him  in  this  opin  on. 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  223 

chief  botanical  distinction  consisting;  in  the  coverins[  to 
the  nut,  or  husk ;  which  in  the  hickories  separates  into 
four  valves,  or  pieces,  when  ripe,  instead  of  adhering  in  a 
homogeneous  coat,  as  upon  the  Black  walnut  and  butter- 
nut. In  size  and  appearance,  the  hickories  rank  with  the 
first  class  of  forest  trees  ;  most  of  them  g-rowins 
vigorously  to  the  height  of  60  or  80  feet,  with  fine  straight 
trunks,  well  balanced  and  ample  heads,  and  handsome, 
lively,  pinnated  foliage.  When  confined  among  other 
trees  in  the  forest,  they  shoot  up  50  or  60  feet  without 
branches  ;  but  when  standing  singly,  they  expand  into  a 
fine  head  near  the  ground  and  produce  a  noble,  lofty 
pyramid  of  foliage,  rather  rounded  at  the  top.  They  have 
all  the  qualities  which  are  necessary  to  constitute  fine, 
graceful  park  trees,  and  are  justly  entitled  to  a  place  in 
every  considerable  plantation. 

The  most  ornamental  species  are  the  Shellbark  hickory, 
the  Pignut,  and  the  Pecan-nut.  The  former  and  the  latter 
produce  delicious  nuts,  and  are  highly  worthy  of 
cultivation  for  their  fruit  alone  ;  while  all  of  them  assume 
very  handsome  shapes  during  every  stage  of  their  growth, 
and  ultimately  become  noble  trees.  Varieties  of  the 
vShellbark  hickory  are  sometimes  seen  producing  nuts  oi 
twice  or  thrice  the  ordinary  size  ;  and  we  have  not  the 
least  doubt  that  the  fruit  might  be  so  improved  in  size  and 
delicacy  of  flavor  by  careful  cultivation,  as  greatly  to 
.surpass  the  European  walnut,  for  the  table.  This  result 
will  probably  be  attained  by  planting  the  nuts  of  the  finest 
varieties  found  in  our  woods,  in  rich  moist  soil,  kept  in 
high  cultivation  ;  as  all  improved  varieties  of  fruit  have 
been  produced  in  this  way,  and  not,  as  many  suppose,  by 
cultivating    the    original    species.       These   remarks    also 


224  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

apply  to  the  Pecan-nut ;  a  western  sort,  which  thrives  weM 
in  the  middle  states,  and  which  produces  a  nut  more 
delicate  in  flavor  than  any  other  of  this  continent. 

These  trees  form  strong  tap-roots,  and  are,  therefore, 
somewhat  difficult  to  transplant  ;  but  they  are  easily 
reared  from  the  nut ;  and,  for  the  reason  stated  above,  this 
method  should  be  adopted  in  preference  to  any  other, 
except  in  particular  cases. 

The  principal  species  of  the  hickory  are  the  following : 

The  Shellbark  hichory  (C  alba),  so  called  on  account 
of  the  roughness  of  its  bark,  which  is  loosened  from  the 
trunk  in  long  scales  or  pieces,  bending  outwards  at  the 
extremity,  and  remaining  attached  by  the  m.iddle  ;  this 
takes  place,  however,  only  on  trees  of  some  size.  The 
leaves  are  composed  of  two  pair  of  leaflets,  with  an  odd  or 
terminal  one.  The  scales  which  cover  the  buds  of  the 
Shellbark  in  winter,  adhere  only  to  the  lower  half,  while 
the  upper  half  of  the  bud  is  left  uncovered,  by  which  this 
sort  is  readily  distinguished  from  the  other  species.  The 
hickory  nuts  of  our  markets  are  the  product  of  this  tree ; 
they  are  much  esteemed  in  every  part  of  the  Union,  and 
are  exported  in  considerable  quantities  to  Europe.  Among 
many  of  the  descendants  of  the  original  Dutch  settlers  of 
New  York  and  New  Jersey,  the  fruit  is  commonly  known 
by  the  appellation  of  the  Kisky-tom  nut.^ 

The  Pecan-nut  {Pacainer  of  the  French),  (C  olivcefor- 
mis)  is  found  only  in  the  western  states.  It  abounds  on 
the  Missouri,  Arkansas,  Wabash,  and  Illinois  Rivers,  and 

*  In  some  parts,  pleasant  social  parties  which  meet  at  stated  times  during 
the  winter  season,  are  called  Kisky-toms,  from  the  regular  appearance  of  tliCFS 
nuts  among  the  refreshments  of  the  evenincr. 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  225 

a  portion  of  the  Ohio  :  Michaux  states  that  there  is  a 
swamp  of  800  acres  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Ohio, 
opposite  the  Cumberland  river,  entirely  covered  w^ith  it. 
It  is  a  handsome,  stately  tree,  about  60  or  70  feet  in  height, 
with  leaves  a  foot  or  eighteen  inches  long,  composed  of 
six  or  seven  pairs  of  leaflets  much  narrower  than  those 
of  our  hickories.  The  nuts  are  contained  in  a  thin, 
somewhat  four-sided  husk;  they  are  about  an  inch  or  an 
inch  and  a  half  long,  smooth,  cylindrical,  and  thin-shelled. 
The  kernel  is  not,  like  most  of  the  hickories,  divided  by 
partitions,  and  it  has  a  very  delicate  and  agreeable  flavor. 
They  form  an  object  of  petty  commerce  between  Upper 
and  Lower  Louisiana.  From  New  Orleans,  they  are 
exported  to  the  West  Indies,  and  to  the  ports  of  the 
United  States.* 

Besides  these  two  most  valuable  species,  our  forests 
produce  the  Pignut  hickory  (C  porcina),  a  lofty  tree  with 
five  to  seven  pairs  of  leaflets,  so  called  from  the  compara 
tive  worthlessness  of  its  fruit ;  which  is  very  thick-shelled, 
and  generally  is  left  on  the  ground  for  the  swine,  squirrels, 
etc.,  to  devour.  It  is  easily  distinguished  in  winter  by  the 
smaller  size  of  its  brown  shoots,  and  its  small  oval  buds. 
Its  wood  is  considered  the  toughest  and  strongest  of  any 
of  the  trees  of  this  section.  The  thick  Shellbark  hickory 
(C  laciniosa)  resembles  much  in  size  and  appearance  the 
common  Shellbark ;  but  the  nuts  are  double  the  size,  the 
shell  much  t^'cker  and  yellowish,  while  that  of  the  latter 
is  white.  It  is  but  little  known  except  west  of  the 
Alleghanies.  The  Mockernut  hickory  (O.  tomentosa)  is 
so  called   from   the   deceptive   appearance   of    the   nuts^ 


«  N.  A.  Sylva,  i.  168. 
15 


226  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

which  are  generally  of  large  size,  but  contain  only  a  very 
small  kernel.  The  leaves  are  composed  of  but  four  pairs 
of  sessile  leaflets,  with  an  odd  one  at  the  end.  The  trunk 
of  the  old  trees  is  very  rugged,  and  the  wood  is  one  of  the 
best  for  fuel. 

The  Bitternut  hickory  (C  amara),  sometimes  called  the 
White  hickory,  grows  60  feet  high  in  New  Jersey.  The 
husk  which  covers  the  nut  of  this  species,  has  four  winged 
appendages  on  its  upper  half,  and  never  hardens  like  the 
other  sorts,  but  becomes  soft  and  decays.  The  shell  is 
thin,  but  the  kernel  is  so  bitter  that  even  the  squirrels 
refuse  to  eat  it.  The  Water  Bitternut  (C  aquatica)  is  a 
very  inferior  sort,  growing  in  the  swamps  and  rice  fields 
of  the  southern  states.  The  leaflets  are  serrated,  and 
resemble  in  shape  the  leaves  of  the  peach  tree.  Both  the 
fruit  and  timber  are  much  inferior  to  those  of  all  the  other 
hickories. 


The  Mountain  Ash  Tree.     Pt/rus* 
Nat.  Ord.     Rosaceae.  Lin.  Syst.     Icosandria,  Di-Pentagynia. 

The  European  Mountain  ash  {Pyrus  aucuparia)  is  an 
elegant  tree  of  the  medium  size,  with  an  erect  stem, 
smooth  bark,  and  round  head.  The  leaves  are  pinnated, 
four  or  five  inches  in  length,  and  slightly  resemble  those 
of  the  ash.  The  snow-white  flowers  are  produced  in  large 
flat   clusters,  in   the   month   of  May,   which   are   thickly 

•  Sorhus  of  the  old  Botaniets. 


DECrDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  22' 

scattered  over  the  outer  surface  of  the  tree,  and  give  it  a 
lively  appearance.  These  are  succeeded  by  numerou? 
bunches  of  berries,  which  in  autumn  turn  to  a  brilliant 
scarlet,  and  are  then  highly  ornamental.  For  the  sake  of 
these  berries,  this  tree  is  a  great  favorite  with  birds  ;  and 
in  Germany  it  is  called  the  Vogel  Beerbaum,  i.  e.  bird's 
berry  tree,  and  is  much  used  by  bird  catchers  to  bait  their 
springs  with. 

Twenty-five  feet  is  about  the  average  height  of  the 
Mountain  ash  in  this  country.  Abroad  it  grows  more 
vigorously  ;  and  in  Scotland,  where  it  is  best  known  by  the 
name  of  the  Roan  or  Rowan  tree,  it  sometimes  reaches  the 
altitude  of  35  or  40  feet.  The  lower  classes  throughout 
the  whole  of  Britain,  for  a  long  time  attributed  to  its 
branches  the  power  of  being  a  sovereign  charm  against 
witches  ;  and  Sir  Thomas  Lauder  informs  us  that  this 
superstition  is  still  in  existence  in  many  parts  of  the  High- 
lands, as  well  as  in  Wales.  It  is  probable  that  this  tree 
was  a  great  favorite  with  the  Druids ;  for  it  is  often  seen 
growing  near  their  ancient  mystical  circles  of  stones.  The 
dairymaid,  in  many  parts  of  England,  still  preserves  the  old 
custom  of  driving  her  cows  to  pasture  with  a  switch  of  the 
roan  tree,  which  she  believes  has  the  power  to  shield  them 
from  all  evil  spells.*  "Evelyn  mentions  that  it  is  cus- 
tomary in  Wales  to  plant  this  tree  in  churchyards  ;  and 
Miss  Kent  in  her  Sylvan  Sketches,  makes  the  following 
remarks  : — '  In  former  times  this  tree  was  supposed  to  be 
possessed  of  the  property  of  driving  away  witches  and  evil 
spirits  ;  and  this  property  is  alluded  to  in  one  of  the  stanzas 
of  a  very  ancient  song,  called  the  Laidley  Worm  of  Spin- 
dlcton's  Heughs. 

*  Lightfoot,  Flora  Scotica. 


228  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

'  Their  spells  were  vain  ;  the  boys  retum'd 
To  the  Queen  in  sorrowful  mood. 
Crying  that  "  witches  have  no  power 
Where  there  is  rowan-tree  wood  1" 

"  The  last  line  of  this  stanza  leads  to  the  true  I'oading  of  a 
stanza  in  Shakspeare's  tragedy  of  Macbeth.  The  sailor's 
wife,  on  the  witch's  requesting  some  chestnuts,  hastil) 
answers,  'A  rown-tree,  witch  !' — but  many  of  the  editions 
have  it,  '  aroint  thee,  witch !'  v/hich  is  nonsense,  and  evi- 
dently a  corruption."* 

The  European  Mountain  ash  is  quite  a  favorite  with 
cultivators  here,  and  deservedly  so.  Its  foliage  is  extremely 
neat,  its  blossoms  pretty,  and  its  blazing  red  berries  in 
autumn  communicate  a  cheerfulness  to  the  season,  and 
harmonize  happily  with  the  gay  tints  of  our  native  forest 
trees.  It  is  remarkably  well  calculated  for  small  planta- 
tions or  collections,  as  it  grows  in  almost  any  soil  or  situa- 
tion, takes  but  little  room,  and  is  always  interesting.  "  In 
the  Scottish  Highlands,"  says  Gilpin,  "  on  some  rocky 
mountain  covered  with  dark  pines  and  waving  birch,  which 
cast  a  solemn  gloom  on  the  lake  below,  a  few  Mountain 
ashes  joining  in  a  clump  and  mixing  with  them,  have  a  fine 
effect.  In  summer  the  light  green  tint  of  their  foliage,  and 
in  autumn  the  glowing  berries  which  hang  clustering  upon 
them,  contrast  beautifully  with  the  deeper  green  of  the 
pines  :  and  if  they  are  happily  blended,  and  not  in  too  large 
a  proportion,  they  add  some  of  the  most  picturesque  furni- 
ture with  which  the  sides  of  those  rugged  mountains  are 
invested."  We  have  seen  the  Mountain  ash,  here,  display- 
ing itself  in  great  beauty,  mingled  with  a  group  of  hemlocks 
from  among  the  deep  green  foliage  of  which,  the  cora 


•  Arboretum  et  Fn  ticetuni,  p.  918. 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  229 

berries  of  the  former  seemed  to  shoot  out ;  their  color 
heightened  by  the  dark  back  ground  of  evergreen 
boughs. 

The  American  Mountain  ash  {Pyrus  Americana)  is  a 
native  of  the  mountains  along  the  banks  of  the  Hudson,  and 
other  cold  and  elevated  situations  in  the  north  of  the  United 
States  :  on  the  Catskill  we  have  seen  some  handsome  speci- 
mens near  the  Mountain  House  ;  but  generally  it  does  not 
grow  in  so  comely  a  shape,  or  form  so  handsome  a  tree 
as  the  foreign  sort.  In  the  general  appearance  of  the  leaves 
and  blossoms,  however,  it  so  nearly  resembles  the  European 
as  to  be  thought  merely  a  variety  by  some  botanists.  The 
chief  difference  between  them  appears  to  be  in  the  color 
of  the  fruit,  which  on  our  native  tree  is  copper  colored  or 
dull  purplish  red.  It  may  probably  assume  a  handsome 
shape  when  cultivated. 

The  Sorb  or  Service  tree  {Pyrus  Sorbus)  is  an  interest- 
mg  species  of  Pyrus,  a  native  of  Europe,  which  is  sometimes 
seen  in  our  gardens,  and  deserves  a  place  for  its  handsome 
foliage  and  its  clusters  of  fruit ;  which  somewhat  resemble 
those  of  the  Mountain  ash,  and  are  often  eaten  when  in  a 
state  of  incipient  decay.  The  leaves  are  coarser  than  those 
of  the  Mountain  ash,  and  the  tree  is  larger,  often  attaining 
the  height  of  50  or  60  feet  in  its  native  soil. 

The  White  Beam  (Pyrus  Aria)  is  another  foreign  species, 
also  bearing  bunches  of  handsome  scarlet  berries,  and  clus- 
ters of  white  flowers.  The  leaves,  however,  are  not  pin- 
nated, but  simply  serrated  on  the  margin.  It  grows  30  feet 
nigh,  and  as  the  foliage  is  dark  green  on  the  upper  side,  and 
downy  white  beneath,  it  presents  an  effect  greatly  resem- 
bling that  of  the  Silver  poplar  in  a  sligll  breeze.     Abroad, 


230  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

the  timber  is  considered  valuable  ;  but  here  it  is  chiefly 
planted  to  produce  a  pleasing  variety  among  other  trees,  by 
its  peculiar  foliage,  and  scarlet  autumnal  fruit. 

All  the  foregoing  trees  grow  naturally  in  the  highest, 
most  exposed,  and  often  almost  barren  situations.  When, 
however,  a  rapid  growth  is  desired,  they  should  be  planted 
in  a  nwre  moist  and  genial  soil.  They  are  easily  propagated 
from  the  .seed,  and  some  of  the  sorts  may  be  grafted  on  the 
pear  or  hawthorn.  The  seeds,  in  all  cases,  should  be  sown 
in  autumn. 


The  Ailantus  Tree.     Ailantus. 

Nat.  Old.    Xanthoxylacece.  Lin.  Syst.    Polygamia,  Monoecia. 

Ailanto  is  the  name  of  this  tree  in  the  Moluccas,  and  is 
said  to  signify  Tree  of  Heaven ;  an  appellation  probably 
bestowed  on  account  of  the  rapidity  of  its  growth,  and  the 
great  height  which  it  reaches  in  the  East  Indies,  its  native 
country.  When  quite  young  it  is  not  unlike  a  sumac  in 
appearance  ;  but  the  ext  reme  rapidity  of  its  growth  and  the 
great  size  of  its  pinnated  leaves,  four  or  five  feet  long,  soon 
distinguish  it  from  that  shrub.  During  the  first  half  dozen 
years  it  outstrips  almost  any  other  deciduous  tree  in  vigor 
of  growth,  and  we  have  measured  leading  stems  which  had 
grown  twelve  or  fifteen  feet  in  a  single  season.  In  four  or 
five  years,  therefore,  it  forms  quite  a  bulky  head,  but  after 
that  period  it  advances  more  slowly,  and  in  20  years  would 
probably  be  overtopped  by  the  poplar,  the  plane,  or  any 
other  fast  growing  tree.  There  are,  as  yet,  no  specimens 
in  this  country  more  than  70  feet  high ;  bul  the  trunk  shoots 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  231 

up  in  a  fine  column,  and  the  head  is  massy  and  irregular  iu 
outline.  In  this  country  it  is  planted  purely  for  ornament, 
but  we  learn  that  in  Europe  its  wood  has  been  applied  tc 
cabinet  work ;  for  which,  from  its  close  grain  and  bright 
satin-like  lustre,  it  is  well  adapted.*  The  male  and  female 
flowers  are  borne  on  separate  trees,  and  both  sexes  are  now 
common,  especially  in  New  York.  The  male  forms  the 
finer  ornamental  tree,  the  female  being  rather  low,  and 
spreading  in  its  head. 

In  New  York  and  Philadelphia,  the  Ailantus  is  more 
generally  known  by  the  name  of  the  Celestial  tree,  and  is 
much  planted  in  the  streets  and  public  squares.  For  such 
situations  it  is  admirably  adapted,  as  it  will  insinuate  its 
strong  roots  into  the  most  meagre  and  barren  soil,  where 
few  other  trees  will  grow,  and  soon  produce  an  abundance 
of  foliage  and  fine  shade.  It  appears  also  to  be  perfectly 
free  from  insects  ;  and  the  leaves,  instead  of  dropping 
slowly,  and  for  a  long  time,  fall  off  almost  immediately 
when  frost  commences. 

The  Ailantus  is  a  picturesque  tree,  well  adapted  to 
produce  a  good  effect  on  the  lawn,  either  singly  or  grouped  ; 
as  its  fine  long  foliage  catches  the  light  well,  and  contrasts 
strikingly  with  that  of  the  round-leaved  trees.  It  has  a 
troublesome  habit  of  producing  suckers,  however,  which 
must  exclude  it  from  every  place  but  a  heavy  sward,  where 
the  surface  of  the  ground  is  never  stirred  by  cultivation. 

The  branches  of  this  tree  are  entirely  destitute  of  the 
small  spray  so  common  on  most  forest  trees,  and  have  a 
singularly  naked  look  in  winter,  well  calculated  to  fix  the 
attention  of  the  spectator  at  that  dreary  season. 

•  Annales  de  la  Societe  d'Horticulture. 


232  LANDSCAPE    GARDF.MNG. 

The  largest  Ailantus  trees  in  America  are  growing 
in  Rhode  Island,  where  it  was  introduced  from  China, 
under  the  name  of  the  Tillou  tree.  It  has  since  been 
rapidly  propagated  by  suckers,  and  is  now  one  of  the 
commonest  ornamental  trees  sold  in  the  nurseries.  The 
finest  trees,  however,  are  those  raised  from  seed. 


The  Kentucky  Coffee  Tree.     Gymnocladus. 
Nat.  Ord.     Leguminosae.       Lin.  Syst.     Dicecia,  Decandria. 

This  unique  tree  is  found  in  the  western  part  of  the 
State  of  New  York,  and  as  far  north  as  Montreal,  in 
Canada.  But  it  is  seen  in  the  greatest  perfection,  in  the 
fertile  bottoms  of  Kentucky  and  Tennessee.  Sixty  feet  is 
the  usual  height  of  the  Coffee  tree  in  those  soils ;  and 
judging  from  specimens  growing  under  our  inspection,  it 
will  scarcely  fall  short  of  that  altitude,  in  well  cultivated 
situations,  anywhere  in  the  middle  states. 

When  in  full  foliage,  this  is  a  very  beautiful  tree.  The 
whole  leaf,  doubly  compound  and  composed  of  a  great 
number  of  bluish-green  leaflets,  is  generally  three  feet  long, 
and  of  two-thirds  that  width  on  thrifty  trees ;  and  the 
whole  foliage  hangs  in  a  well-rounded  mass,  that  would 
look  almost  too  heavy,  were  it  not  lightened  in  effect  by 
the  loose,  tufted  appearance  of  each  individual  leaf  The 
flowers,  which  are  white,  are  borne  in  loose  spikes,  m 
the  beginning  of  summer  ;  and  are  succeeded  by  ample 
brown  pods,  flat  and  somewhat  curved,  which  contain  six 
or  seven  large  grey  seeds,  imbedded  in  a  sweet  pulpy 
substance.     As  the  genus  is  dioecious,  it  is  necessary  tha 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  233 

both  sexes  of  this  tree  should  be  growing  near  each  other, 
in  order  to  produce  seed. 

When  Kentucky  was  first  settled  by  the  adventurous 
pioneers  from  the  Atlantic  States,  who  commenced  their 
career  in  the  primeval  wilderness,  almost  without  the 
necessaries  of  life,  except  as  produced  by  them  from  the 
fertile  soil,  they  fancied  that  they  had  discovered  a 
substitute  for  coffee  in  the  seeds  of  this  tree,  and 
accordingly  the  name  of  Coffee  tree  was  bestowed  upon 
it :  but  when  a  communication  was  established  with  the 
seaports,  they  gladly  relinquished  their  Kentucky  beverage 
for  the  more  grateful  flavor  of  the  Indian  plant ;  and  no 
use  is  at  present  made  of  it  in  that  manner.  It  has, 
however,  a  fine,  compact  wood,  highly  useful  in  building  or 
cabinet-work. 

The  Kentucky  Coffee  tree  is  well  entitled  to  a  place  in 
every  collection.  In  summer,  its  charming  foliage  and 
agreeable  flowers  render  it  a  highly  beautiful  lawn  tree  ; 
and  in  winter,  it  is  certainly  one  of  the  most  novel  trees, 
in  appearance,  in  our  whole  native  sylva.  Like  the 
Ailantus,  it  is  entirely  destitute  of  small  spray,  but  it  also 
adds  to  this  the  additional  singularity  of  thick,  blunt, 
terminal  branches,  without  any  perceptible  buds.  Alto- 
gether it  more  resembles  a  dry,  dead,  and  withered 
combination  of  sticks,  than  a  living  and  thrifty  tree. 
Although  this  would  be  highly  monotonous  and  displeasing, 
were  it  the  common  appearance  of  our  deciduous  trees 
in  winter ;  yet,  as  it  is  not  so,  but  a  rare  and  very  unique 
exception  to  the  usual  beautiful  diversity  of  spray  and 
ramification,  it  is  highly  interesting  to  place  such  a  tree  as 
the  present  in  the  neighborhood  of  other  full-sprayed 
ipecies,   where   the   curiosity   which   it   excites  will  add 


234 


LANDSCAPE    GARDENING. 


greatly  to  its  value  as  an  interesting  object  at  that  period 
of  the  year.* 

'       A.  '-'V         -^  ^ 


v>! 


[Fig.  38.    The  Kentucky  Coftee  Tree.] 

The  seeds  vegetate  freely,  and  the  tree  is  usually 
propagated  in  that  manner.  It  prefers  a  rich,  strong  soil, 
like  most  trees  of  the  v^^estern  states. 


The  Willow  Tree.     Salix. 

Nat.  Ord.     Salicaceae.         Lin.  Syst.     Dioecia,  Diandria. 

A  very  large  genus,  comprising  plants  of  almost  every 

*  There  are  some  very  fi.ie  specimens  upon  tlie  lawn  at  Dr.  Hosack's  seat 
Hyde  Park,  N.  Y.,  which  have  fruited  lor  a  numbiir  of  years.     iSee  Fig.  38. 


i 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  235 

Stature,  from  minute  shrubs  of  three  or  four  inches  iu 
height,  to  lofty  and  wide-spreading  trees  of  fifty  or  sixty 
feet.*  They  are  generally  remarkable  for  their  narrow 
leaves,  and  slender,  round,  and  flexible  branches. 

There  are  few  of  these  willows  which  are  adapted  to 
add  to  the  beauty  of  artificial  scenery ;  but  among  them 
are  three  or  four  trees,  which,  from  their  peculiar 
character,  deserve  especial  notice.  These  are  the  Weep- 
ing, or  Babylonian  willow  {Salix  Babylonica),  the  White, 
or  Huntington  willow  {S.  alba),  the  Golden  willow 
{S.  vitellina),  the  Russell  willow  (>S.  Russelliana),  and  the 
profuse  Flowering  willow  {S.  caprea). 

The  above  are  all  foreign  sorts,  which,  however  (except 
the  last),  have  long  ago  been  introduced,  and  are  now 
quite  common  in  the  United  States.  All  of  them  except 
the  first,  have  an  upright  or  wavy,  spreading  growth,  and 
form  lofty  trees,  considerably  valued  abroad  for  their 
timber.  The  White  willow  and  the  Russell  willow  are 
very  rapid  in  their  growth,  and  have  a  pleasing  light  green 
foliage.  The  Golden  willow  is  remarkable  for  its  bright 
yellow  bark,  which  renders  it  quite  ornamental,  even  in 
winter.  It  is  a  middle  sized  tree,  and  is  often  seen 
growing  along  the  road-sides  in  the  eastern  and  middle 
states.  Salix  caprea  is  deserving  a  place  in  collections 
for  the  beauty  of  its  abundant  blossoms  at  an  early  and 
cheerless  period  in  the  spring.  There  are  a  number  o^ 
other  species  found  growing  in  different  parts  of  the 
Union,  which  may  perhaps  possess  sufficient  interest  to 
recommend  themselves  to  the  planter. 

»  Dr.  Barratt  of  Middletown,  Conn.,  who  has  paid  great  attention  to  the 
willow,  enumerates  100  species,  as  growing  in  North  America,  eithei 
Indigenous  or  introduced. 


236  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

The  chief,  and  indeed  almost  the  only  value  of  these 
willows  in  Landscape  Gardening,  is  to  embellish  low 
grounds,  streams  of  water,  or  margins  of  lakes.  When 
mingled  with  other  trees,  they  often  harmonize  so  badly 
from  their  extremely  different  habits,  foliage,  and  coior, 
that  unless  very  sparingly  introduced,  they  cannot  fail  to 
have  a  bad  effect.  On  the  banks  of  streams,  however, 
they  are  extremely  appropriate,  hanging  their  slender 
branches  over  the  liquid  element,  and  drawing  genial 
nourishment  from  the  moistened  soil. 

"  Le  saule  incline  sur  la  rive  penchante, 
BalanQant  mollement  sa  tete  blanchissante." 

In  the  middle  distance  of  a  scene,  also,  where  a  stream 
winds  partially  hidden,  or  which  might  otherwise  wholly 
escape  the  eye,  these  trees,  if  planted  along  its  course, 
connected  as  they  are  in  our  minds  with  watery  soils,  will 
not  fail  to  direct  the  attention  and  convey  forcibly  the 
impression  of  a  brook  or  river,  winding  its  way  beneath 
their  shade. 

The  Weeping  willow,  however,  is  at  once  one  of  the 
most  elegant,  graceful,  and  interesting  trees ;  elegant  in  its 
light  and  delicate  waving  foliage  ;  graceful  in  the  soft 
flowing  lines  formed  by  its  drooping  branches  ;  and 
nteresting  by  the  melancholy,  poetical,  and  scriptural 
Associations  connected  with  it.  Every  one  will  call  to 
mind  the  captivity  of  the  children  of  Israel,  as  connected 
with  this  tree :  "  By  the  waters  of  Babylon  we  sat  down 
and  wept,  O  Zion !  As  for  our  harps,  we  hanged  them 
upon  the  willow  trees  :  "  Psalm  cxxxvii.  And  the  gentle 
sigh  of  the  faintest  breeze  through  its  light  foliage,  still 
recalls   to    the   mind    the    plaintive     murmur   of    those 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  237 

abandoned    harps,    which    one    may   fancy    to    have   be- 
queathed their  last  tones  of  music  to  its  pensile  branches 
Since    that  period,  the  willow  appears  to  have  been, 
more  or  less,  consecrated  to  a  tender  sentiment  of  grief 

"  Trailing  low  its  boughs,  to  hide 
The  gleaming  marble." 

To  these  offices  of  pensive  melancholy,  it  appears  to 
be  dedicated  in  almost  all  countries.  The  Chinese  and 
other  Asiatic  nations,  and  the  Turks,  as  well  as  the 
enlightened  Europeans,  universally  plant  it  in  theii 
cemeteries  and  last  places  of  repose.  A  French  writei 
thus  speaks  of  it  in  contrasting  its  merits  for  those 
purposes,  with  the  cypress.  "  The  cypress  was  long 
considered  as  the  appropriate  ornament  of  the  cemetery ; 
but  its  gloomy  shade  among  the  tombs,  and  its  thick, 
heavy  foliage  of  the  darkest  green,  inspire  only  depress- 
ing thoughts,  and  present  the  image  of  death  under  its 
most  appalling  form.  The  Weeping  willow,  on  the 
contrary,  rather  conveys  a  picture  of  grief  for  the  loss 
of  the  departed,  than  of  the  darkness  of  the  grave.  Its 
light  and  elegant  foliage  flows  like  the  dishevelled  hair 
and  graceful  drapery  of  a  sculptured  mourner  over  a 
sepulchral  urn ;  and  conveys  those  soothing,  though 
softly  melancholy  reflections  which  have  made  one  of  our 
poets  exclaim,  '  There  is  a  pleasure  even  in  grief.' "  * 
On  this  passage,  Loudon  remarks  :  "  Notwithstanding  the 
preference  thus  given  the  willow,  the  shape  of  the  cypress 
conveying  to  a  fanciful  mind  the  idea  of  a  flame  pointing 
upwards,  has  been  supposed  to  afford  an  emblem  of  the 
hope  of  immortality  ;  it  is  still  planted  in  many  church- 

•  Poiteau,  "nouveaudu  Haniel." 


238  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

yards  on  the  continent,  and  alluded  to  in    he   epitaphs, 
under  this  light."  * 

Abroad,  the  willow  was  in  ancient  days  worn  by 
young  girls,  as  a  symbol  of  grief  for  one  of  their  own  sex 
who  died  young : 

"  Lay  a  garland  on  my  hearse, 
Of  the  dismal  yew  ; 
Maidens,  willow  branches  wear, 
Say  I  died  true." 

The  poets  often  allude  to  the  willow  : 

"  A  willow  garland  thou  did'st  send 
Perfumed  last  day  to  me  ; 
Which  did  but  only  this  portend, 

I  was  forsook  by  thee. 
Smce  so  it  is,  I'll  tell  thee  what, 

To-morrow  thou  shalt  see 
Me  wear  the  willow,  after  that 

To  die  upon  the  tree."  Herrick. 

In  landscapes,  the  Weeping  willow  is  peculiarly  express- 
ive of  grace  and  softness.  Although  a  highly  beautiful 
tree,  great  care  must  be  used  in  its  introduction,  to 
preserve  the  harmony  and  propriety  of  the  whole  ;  as 
nothing  could  be  more  strikingly  inappropriate  than  to 
intermix  it  frequently  with  trees  expressive  of  dignity  or 
majesty,  as  the  oak,  etc. ;  where  the  violent  contrast 
exhibited  in  the  near  proximity  of  the  two  opposite  forms, 
could  only  produce  discord.  The  favorite  place,  where 
it  is  most  true  to  nature  and  itself,  is  near  water, 
where 

"  it  dips 


Its  pendent  boughs,  stooping  as  if  to  drink."  Cowpeb. 

•  Arb.  Brit. 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  239 

There,  when  properly  introduced,  not  in  too  gieat  abun- 
dance, hanging  over  some  rustic  bridge,  or  cool  jutting 
spring,  and  supported,  and  brought  into  harmony  with 
surrounding  vegetation  by  such  other  graceful  and  light- 
sprayed  trees  as  the  Birch  and  Weeping  elm,  its  effect  is 
often  surpassingly  beautiful  and  appropriate.  There  it  is 
one  01  the  first  in  the  vernal  season  to  burst  its  buds,  and 
mirror  its  soft  green  foliage  in  the  flood  beneath,  and  one 
of  the  last  in  autumn  to  yield  its  leafy  vesture  to  the 
chilling  frosts,  or  fitful  gusts  of  approaching  winter. 

We  consider  the  Weeping  willow  ill  calculated  for  a 
place  near  a  mansion  which  has  any  claims  to  size,  mag- 
nificence, or  architectural  beauty ;  as  it  does  not  in  any 
way  contribute  by  its  form  or  outline  to  add  to  or 
strengthen  such  characteristics  in  a  building.  The  only 
place  where  it  can  be  happily  situated  in  this  way,  is  in 
the  case  of  very  humble  or  inconspicuous  cottages,  which 
we  have  seen  much  ornamented  by  being  completely 
hidden,  as  it  were,  beneath  the  soft  veil  of  its  streaming 
foliage. 

There  is  a  very  singular  variety  of  the  Weeping  willow 
cultivated  in  our  gardens,  under  the  name  of  the  Ringlet 
willow ;  which  is  so  remarkable  in  the  form  of  its  foliage, 
and  so  different  from  all  other  trees,  that  it  is  well  worth  a 
place  as  a  curiosity.  Each  leaf  is  curled  round  like  a  ring 
tT  hoop,  and  the  appearance  of  a  branch  in  full  foliage  is 
not  unlike  a  thinly  curled  ringlet ;  whence  its  commor 
name.  It  forms  a  neat,  middle-sized  tree,  with  drooping 
branches,  though  hardly  so  pendent  as  the  Weeping 
willow. 

The  uses  of  the  willow  are  extremely  numerous.  Abroad 
It  is  extensively  cultivated  in  coppices,  for  timber  and  fuel, 


240  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

for  hoops,  ties,  etc. ;  and  we  are  informed,  that  in  the  north 
ern  parts  of  Europe,  and  throughout  the  Russian  Empire, 
the  twigs  are  employed  in  manufacturing  domestic  uten- 
sils, harness,  cables,  and  even  for  the  houses  of  the  pea- 
santry themselves.  From  the  fibres  of  the  bark,  it  is  said 
that  a  durable  cloth  is  woven  by  the  Tartars  ;  and  the 
bark  is  used  for  tanning  in  various  parts  of  the  eastern 
continent. 

But  by  far  the  most  extensive  use  to  which  this  plant  is 
applied,  is  in  the  manufacture  of  baskets.  From  the 
earliest  periods  it  has  been  devoted  to  this  purpose,  and 
large  plantations,  or  osier-fields,  as  they  are  called,  are 
devoted  to  the  culture  of  particular  kinds  for  this  purpose, 
both  in  Europe  and  America.  The  common  Basket  willow, 
an  European  species  (S.  viminalis),  is  the  sort  usually 
grown  for  this  purpose,  but  several  others  are  also  employed. 
For  the  culture  of  the  basket  willows,  a  deep,  moist,  though 
not  inundated  soil  is  necessary  ;  such  as  is  generally  found 
on  the  margins  of  small  streams,  or  low  lands.  "  Ropes 
and  baskets  made  from  willow  twigs,  were  probably  among 
the  very  earliest  manufactures,  in  countries  where  these 
trees  abound.  The  Romans  used  the  twigs  for  binding 
their  vines,  and  tying  their  reeds  in  bundles,  and  made  all 
sorts  of  baskets  of  them.  A  crop  of  willows  was  consi- 
dered so  valuable  in  the  time  of  Cato,  that  he  ranks  the 
Salictum,  or  willow  field,  next  in  value  to  the  vineyard 
and  the  garden.     (Art.  Salix.  Arb.  Brit.) 

Among  us,  the  European  Basket  willow  is  extensively 
cultivated,  and  very  large  plantations  are  to  be  seen  in  the 
low  grounds  of  New  Jersey  and  Pennsylvania.  The  wood 
of  some  of  the  tree  willows,  and  particularly  that  of  the 
Yellow  willow,  and   the    Shining    willow    (S.    lucida),  is 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  241 

greatly  used  in  making  charcoal  for  the  manufacture  of 
gunpowder. 

It  is  almost  unnecessary  to  say  that  all  the  willows  grow 
readily  from  slips  or  truncheons  planted  in  the  ground.  So 
tenacious  of  life  are  they,  that  examples  are  known  where 
small  trees  have  been  taken  up  and  completely  inverted,  by 
planting  the  branches  and  leaving  the  roots  exposed,  which 
have  nevertheless  thrown  out  new  roots  from  the  former 
tops,  and  the  roots  becoming  branches,  the  tree  grew  again 
with  its  ordinary  vigor. 


The  Sassafras  Tree.     Laurus. 

Nat.  Ord.     Lauraceae.         Lin.  Syst.     Enneandria,  Monogynia. 

The  Sassafras  is  a  neat  tree  of  the  middle  size,  belonging 
to  the  same  family  as  the  European  laurel  or  Sweet  bay  ; 
it  is  found,  more  or  less  plentifully,  through  the  whole 
territory  of  the  United  States.  In  favorable  soils,  along 
the  banks  of  the  Hudson,  it  often  grows  to  40  or  50  feet  in 
height ;  but  in  the  woods  it  seldom  reaches  that  altitude. 
The  flowers  are  yellow,  and  appear  in  small  clusters  in 
May,  and  the  fruit  is  a  small,  deep  blue  berry,  seated  on  a 
red  footstalk  or  cup.  The  bark  of  the  wood  and  roots  has 
an  agreeable  smell  and  taste,  and  is  a  favorite  ingredient, 
with  the  branches  of  the  spruce,  in  the  small  beer  made  by 
the  country  people.  Medicinally,  it  is  considered  anti- 
scorbutic and  sudorific ;  and  is  thought  efficacious  in 
purifying  the  blood.  It  was  formerly  in  great  repute  with 
practitioners  abroad,  and  large  quantities  of  the  bark  of 
the  roots  were  shipped  to  England  ;  but  the  demand  has 

of  late  greatly  decreased. 

16 


242  LANDSCAPE  GAKDENINO. 

The  Sassafras  is  a  very  agreeable  tree  to  the  eye,  decked 
as  it  is  with  its  glossy,  deep  green,  oval,  or  three-lobed 
leaves.  When  fully  grown,  it  is  also  quite  picturesque  for 
a  tree  of  so  moderate  a  size  ;  as  its  branches  generally  have 
an  irregular,  somewhat  twisted  look,  and  the  head  is 
partially  flattened,  and  considerably  varied  in  outUne. 
After  ten  years  of  age,  this  tree  always  looks  older  than  it 
really  is,  from  its  rough,  deeply  cracked,  grey  bark,  and 
rather  crooked  stem.  It  often  appears  extremely  well  on 
the  borders  of  a  plantation,  and  mixes  well  with  almost  any 
of  the  heavier  deciduous  trees.  As  it  is  by  no  means  so 
common  a  tree  as  many  of  those  already  noticed,  it  is  gene- 
rally the  more  valued,  and  may  frequently  be  seen  growing 
along  the  edges  of  cultivated  fields  and  pastures,  appearing 
to  thrive  well  in  any  good  mellow  soil. 


The  Catalpa  Tree.     Catalpa. 
Nat.  Ord.     Bignoniaceae.         Lin.  Syst.     Diandria,  Monogynia. 

A  native  of  nearly  all  the  states  south  and  west  of  Vir- 
ginia, this  tree  has  become  naturalized  also  throughout  the 
middle  and  eastern  sections  of  the  Union,  where  it  is 
generally  planted  for  ornament. 

In  Carolina  it  is  called  the  Catawba  tree,  after  the 
Catawba  Indians,  a  tribe  that  formerly  inhabited  that 
country ;  and  it  is  probable  that  the  softer  epithet  now 
generally  bestowed  upon  it  in  the  north,  is  only  a  corrup- 
tion of  that  original  name. 

The  leaves  of  this  tree  are  very  large,  often  measuring 
six  or  seven  inches  broad ;  t'ley  are  heart-shaped  in  form, 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  243 

smooth,  and  pale  green  on  the  upper  side,  slightly  downy 
beneath.  The  blossoms  are  extremely  beautiful,  hanging, 
like  those  of  the  Horse-chestnut,  in  massy  clusters  beyond 
the  outer  surface  of  the  foliage.  The  color  is  a  pure  and 
delicate  white,  and  the  inner  part  of  the  corolla  is 
delicately  sprinkled  over  with  violet,  or  reddish  and  yellow 
spots ;  indeed,  the  individual  beauty  of  the  flowers  is  so 
great  when  viewed  closely,  that  one  almost  regrets  that 
they  should  be  elevated  on  the  branches  of  a  large  forest 
tree.  When  these  fall,  they  are  succeeded  by  bean-like 
capsules  or  seed-vessels,  which  grow  ten  or  twelve  inches 
long,  become  brown,  and  hang  pendent  u})on  the  branches 
during  the  greater  part  of  the  winter. 

The  Catalpa  never,  or  rarely,  takes  a  symmetrical  form, 
when  growing  up ;  but  generally  forms  a  wide-spreading 
head,  forty  or  fifty  feet  in  diameter.  Its  large  and  abundant 
foliage  affords  a  copious  shade,  and  its  growth  is  quite 
rapid,  soon  forming  a  large  and  bulky  tree.  In  ornamental 
plantations  it  is  much  valued  on  account  of  its  superb  and 
showy  flowers,  and  is  therefore  deserving  a  place  in  every 
lawn.  It  is  generally  seen  to  best  advantage  when 
standing  alone,  but  it  may  also  be  mingled  with  other  large 
round-leaved  trees,  as  the  basswood,  etc.,  when  it  produces 
a  very  pleasing  effect.  The  branches  are  rather  brittle, 
like  those  of  the  locust,  and  are  therefore  somewhat  liable 
to  be  broken  by  the  wind.  Accustomed  to  a  warmer 
climate,  the  leaves  expand  late  in  the  spring,  and  wither 
hastily  when  frost  approaches ;  but  the  soft  tint  of  their 
luxuriant  vegetation  is  very  grateful  to  the  eye,  and  it 
appears  to  be  uninjured  by  the  hottest  rays  of  summer. 
North  of  this  place  the  Catalpa  is  rather  too  tender  for 
exposed  situations. 


244  LANDSCAPE  6ABDENIN6. 

We  have  seen  the  Catalpa  employed  to  great  advantage 
in  fixing  and  holding  up  the  loose  soil  of  river  banks, 
where,  if  planted,  it  will  soon  insinuate  its  strong  roots, 
and  retain  the  soil  firmly.  In  Ohio,  experiments  have 
been  made  with  the  timber  for  the  posts  used  in  fencing ; 
and  it  is  stated  on  good  authority  that  it  is  but  little 
inferior,  when  well  seasoned,  to  that  of  the  locust  in 
durability. 

Michaux  mentions  that  he  has  been  assured  that  the 
honey  collected  from  the  flowers  is  poisonous ;  but  this  we 
are  inclined  to  doubt ;  or  at  least  we  have  witnessed  no  ill 
effects  from  planting  it  in  abundance  in  the  middle  States, 
in  those  neighborhoods  where  bees  are  kept  in  considerable 
numbers. 

The  Catalpa  is  very  easily  propagated  from  seeds  sown 
in  any  light  soil ;  and  the  growth  of  the  young  plants  is 
extremely  rapid.     C.  syringafolia  is  the  only  species. 


The  Peksimon  Tree.     Diospyros. 

Nat.  Ord.     Ebenaceae.  Lin.  Syst.     Polygamia,  Dicecia. 

The  Highlands  of  the  Hudson,  and  about  the  same 
latitude  on  the  Connecticut,  may  be  considered  the 
northern  limits  of  this  small  tree.  It  generally  forms  a 
spreading  loose  head,  of  some  twenty  or  thirty  feet  high, 
in  good  soils  in  the  middle  states  ;  but  we  have  seen  a 
specimen  of  nearly  eighty  feet,  in  the  old  Bartram  Garden 
at  Philadelphia  ;  and  fifty  feet  is  probably  the  average 
growth  on  deep  fertile  lands  in  the  southern  states. 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  245 

The  Persimon  bears  a  small,  round,  dull  red  fruit,  about 
an  inch  in  diameter,  containing  six  or  seven  stones ;  it  is 
insufferably  austere  and  bitter,  until  the  autumnal  frosts  have 
mellowed  it  and  lessened  its  harshness,  when  it  becomes 
quite  palatable.  Considerable  quantities  of  the  fruit  are 
annually  brought  into  New  York  market  and  its  vicinity, 
from  New  Jersey,  and  sold  :  the  produce  is  very  abundant, 
a  single  tree  often  yielding  several  bushels.  A  strong 
brandy  has  been  distilled  from  them  ;  and  in  the  south  they 
are  said  to  enter  into  the  composition  of  the  country  beer. 
For  the  latter  purpose  they  are  pounded  up  with  bran,  dried, 
and  kept  for  use  till  wanted. 

The  foliage  of  the  Persimon  is  handsome ;  the  leaves 
being  four  or  five  inches  long,  simple,  oblong,  dark  green, 
and  glossy,  like  those  of  the  orange.  The  blossoms  are 
green  and  inconspicuous. 

The  Persimon  has  no  importance  as  a  tree  to  recommend 
it ;  but  it  may  be  admitted  in  all  good  collections  for  its 
pleasing  shining  foliage,  and  the  variety  which  its  singular 
fruit  adds  to  the  productions  of  a  complete  country  resi- 
dence. The  common  sort  (D.  Virginiana)  grows  readily 
from  the  seed. 

There  is  an  European  Species  {Dijosporus  Lotus),  with 
yellow  fruit  about  the  size  of  a  cherry,  rather  less  palatable 
than  our  native  kind.  The  specimens  of  this  tree,  which 
we  have  imported,  appear  too  tender  to  bear  our  winters 
unprotected,  so  that  it  will  probably  not  prove  hardy  in  the 
northern  states. 


246  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

The  Peperidge  Tree.     Nyssa. 

Nat.  Ord.     SantalaceEe.  Lin.  Syst.     Polygamia,  Dioecia. 

The  Peperidge,  Tupelo,  or  sour  gum  tree,  as  it  is  called 
in  various  parts  of  the  Union,  grows  to  a  moderate  size, 
and  is  generally  found  in  moist  situations,  though  we  have 
seen  it  in  New  York  State,  thriving  very  well  in  dry  upland 
soils.  The  diameter  of  the  trunk  is  seldom  more  than 
eighteen  inches,  and  the  general  height  is  about  forty  or 
fifty  feet.  The  flowers  are  scarcely  perceptible,  but  the 
fruit  borne  in  pairs,  is  about  the  size  of  a  pea,  deep  blue, 
and  ripens  in  October. 

The  leaves  are  oval,  smooth,  and  have  a  beautiful  gloss 
on  their  upper  surface.  The  branches  diverge  from  the 
main  trunk  almost  horizontally,  and  sometimes  even  bend 
downwards  like  those  of  some  of  the  Pine  family,  which 
gives  the  tree  a  very  marked  and  picturesque  character. 

The  Peperidge  when  of  moderate  size  is  not  difficult  to 
transplant,  and  we  consider  it  a  very  fine  tree,  both  on 
account  of  its  beautiful,  dark  green,  and  lustrous  foliage  in 
summer,  and  the  brilliant  fiery  color  which  it  takes  when 
the  frost  touches  it  in  autumn.  In  this  respect  it  is  fully 
equal  in  point  of  beauty  to  that  of  the  Liquidambar  or  Sweet 
gum,  and  the  maples  which  we  have  already  described  ; 
and  so  fine  a  feature  do  we  consider  this  autumnal  beauty 
of  foliage  that  we  would  by  all  means  advise  the  introduc- 
tion of  such  trees  as  the  Peperidge  into  the  landscape  for 
that  reason  alone,  were  it  not  also  valuable  for  its  peculiar 
form  and  polished  leaves  in  summer. 

Besides  the  Peperidge  there  are  three  other  Nyssas, 
natives  of  this  continent,  viz.  the  Black  gum  {N.  Si/lvatica), 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES-  247 

a  tree  of  greater  dimensions,  and  larger,  more  elongated 
leaves,  whose  northern  bomidary  is  the  neighborhood  of 
Philadelphia ;  the  Large  Tupelo  (N.  grandidentata),  a 
tree  of  the  largest  size,  with  large,  coarsely  toothed 
foliage,  and  a  large  blue  fruit,  three-fourths  of  an  inch 
long,  which  is  sometimes  called  the  wild  olive ;  and  the 
sour  Tupelo  (N.  capitata),  with  long,  smooth,  laurel-like 
leaves,  and  light  red,  oval  fruit,  called  the  Wild  Lime, 
from  its  abounding  in  a  strong  acid,  resembling  that  of 
the  latter  fruit.  Both  the  latter  trees  are  natives  of  the 
southern  states,  and  are  little  known  north  of  Philadelphia. 

The  wood  of  all  the  foregoing  trees  is  remarkable  for 
the  peculiar  arrangement  of  its  fibres ;  which,  instead  of 
running  directly  through  the  stem  in  parallel  lines,  are 
curiously  twisted  and  interwoven  together.  Owing  to 
this  circumstance  it  is  extremely  difficult  to  split,  and  is 
therefore  often  used  in  the  manufacture  of  wooden  bowls, 
trays,  etc.  That  of  the  Peperidge  is  also  preferred  for 
the  same  reason,  and  for  its  toughness,  by  the  wheel- 
wrights, in  the  construction  of  the  naves  of  wheels,  and 
for  other  similar  purposes. 

Michaux  remarks  that  he  is  unable  to  give  any  reason 
why  the  names  of  Sour  gum.  Black  gum,  etc.,  have  been 
bestowed  upon  these  trees,  as  they  spontaneously  exude  no 
sap  or  fluid  which  could  give  rise  to  such  an  appellation. 
We  suspect  that  the  term  has  arisen  from  a  comparison 
of  the  autumnal  tints  of  these  trees  belonging  to  the  genus 
Nyssa,  with  those  of  the  Sweet  gum  or  Liquidambar, 
»vhich,  at  a  s)iort  distance,  they  so  much  resemble  in  the 
early  autumn. 


248  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

The  Thorn  Tree.     Crategus. 

Nat.  Ord.     Rosaceae.         Lin.  Syst.     Icosandria,  Di-pentagynia. 

A  tree  of  the  smallest  size ;  but  though  many  of  the 
sorts  attain  only  the  stature  of  ordinary  shrubs,  yet  some 
of  our  native  species,  as  well  as  the  English  Hawthorn 
(C  oxycantha),  when  standing  alone,  will  form  neat, 
spreading-topped  trees,  of  twenty  or  thirty  feet  in  height. 

Although  the  thorn  is  not  generally  viewed  among  us 
as  a  plant  at  all  conducive  to  the  beauty  of  scenery,  yet 
we  are  induced  to  mention  it  here,  and  to  enforce  its 
claims  in  that  point  of  view,  as  they  appear  to  us  highly 
entitled  to  consideration.  First,  the  foliage — deep  green, 
shining,  and  often  beautifully  cut  and  diversified  in  form 
— is  prettily  tufted  and  arranged  upon  the  branches ; 
secondly,  the  snowy  blossoms — often  produced  in  such 
quantities  as  to  completely  whiten  the  whole  head  of  the 
tree,  and  which  in  many  sorts  have  a  delightful  perfume 
— present  a  charming  appearance  in  the  early  part  of  the 
season  ;  and  thirdly,  the  ruddy  crimson  or  purple  haws  or 
fruit,  which  give  the  whole  plant  a  rich  and  glowing 
appearance  in  and  among  our  fine  forests,  open  glades,  or 
wild  thickets,  in  autumn. 

The  most  ornamental  and  the  strongest  growing 
indigenous  kinds  are  the  Scarlet  Thorn  tree  (C  coccinea), 
and  its  varieties,  the  Washington  Thorn  (C  populifolia), 
and  the  Cockspur  Thorn  (C.  crus-galli)  ;  all  of  which,  in 
good  soil,  will  grow  to  the  height  of  twenty  or  thirty  feet, 
and  can  readily  be  transplanted  from  their  native  sites. 

The  English  Hawthorn  is  not  only  a  beautiful  small 
tree,  but  it  is  connected  in  our  minds  with  all  the  elegant, 


DECIDUOUS    OKNAMENTAL    TIISES.  249 

poetic,  and  legendary  associations  which  belong  to  it  in 
England  ;  for  scarcely  any  tree  is  richer  in  such  than 
this.  With  the  floral  games  of  May,  this  plant,  from  its 
blooming  at  that  period,  and  being  the  favorite  of  the 
season,  has  become  so  identified,  that  the  blossoms  are 
known  in  many  parts  of  Britain  chiefly  by  that  name. 
Among  the  ancient  Greeks  and  Romans,  they  were  dedi- 
cated to  Flora,  whose  festival  began  on  the  first  of  that 
month  ;  and  in  the  olden  times  of  merry  England,  the 
May-pole,  its  top  decked  with  the  gayest  garlands  of  these 
blossoms,  was  raised  amid  the  shouts  of  the  young  and 
old  assembled  to  celebrate  this  happy  rustic  festival. 
Chaucer  alludes  to  the  custom,  and  describes  the  hawthorn 
thus: 

Marke  the  faire  blooming  of  the  Hawthorne  tree, 
Which  finely  cloathed  in  a  robe  of  white, 
Fills  full  the  wanton  eye  with  May's  delight. 

Court  of  Love, 

And  Herrick  has  left  us  the  following  lines  to  "  Corrina 
going  a  Maying :" 

"  Come,  my  Corrina,  come  ;  and  coming  marke 
How  eche  field  turns  a  street,  eche  street  a  park 
Made  green,  and  trimmed  with  trees  ;  see  how 
Devotion  gives  eche  house  a  bough 
Or  branch  ;  eche  porch,  eche  doore  ere  this. 
An  arke,  a  tabernacle  is, 
Made  up  of  Hawthorne,  neatly  interwove, 
As  if  here  were  those  cooler  shades  of  love." 

The  following  lines  descriptive  of  the  English  species, 
we  extract  from  the  "  Romance  of  Nature." 

"  Come  let  us  rest  this  hawthorn  tree  beneath. 
And  breathe  its  luscious  fragrance  as  it  flies,  » 


250  LANDoCAPK  GARDENING. 

And  watch  the  tiny  petals  as  they  fall. 
Circling  and  winnowing  down  our  sylvan  hall." 

The  berries,  or  haws,  as  they  are  called,  have  a  very  rich 
and  coral-like  look  when  the  tree,  standing  alone,  is  com- 
pletely covered  with  them  in  October.  There  are  some 
elegant  varieties  of  this  species,  which  highly  deserve  cul- 
tivation for  the  beauty  of  their  flowers  and  foliage.  Among 
them  we  may  particularly  notice  the  Double  White,  with 
beautiful  blossoms  like  small  white  roses ;  the  Pink  and  the 
Scarlet  flowering,  both  single  and  double,  and  the  Varie- 
gated-leaved hawthorn,  all  elegant  trees  ;  as  well  as  the 
Weeping  hawthorn,  a  rarer  variety,  with  pendulous 
branches. 

The  Hawthorn  is  most  agreeable  to  the  eye  in  compo- 
sition when  it  forms  the  undergrowth  or  thicket,  peeping 
out  in  all  its  green  freshness,  gay  blossoms,  or  bright  fruit, 
from  beneath  and  between  the  groups  and  masses  of  trees  ; 
where,  mingled  with  the  hazel,  etc.,  it  gives  a  pleasing 
intricacy  to  the  whole  mass  of  foliage.  But  the  different 
species  display  themselves  to  most  advantage,  and  grow 
also  to  a  finer  size,  when  planted  singly,  or  two  or  three 
together,  along  the  walks  leading  through  the  different  parts 
of  the  pleasure-ground  or  shrubbery. 


The  Magnolia  Tree.     Magnolia. 
Nat.  Ord.     MagnoliacoEb.  Lin.  Syst.     Polyandria,  Polygynia, 

The  North  American  trees  composing  the  genus  MagnoHa 
are  certainly  among  the  most  splendid  productions  of  the 
forests  in  any  temperate  climate  ,  and  when  we  consider 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  251 

the  size  and  fragrance  of  their  blossoms,  or  the  beauty  of 
their  large  and  noble  foliage,  we  may  be  allowed  to  doubt 
whether  there  is  a  more  magnificent  and  showy  genus  of 
deciduous  trees  in  the  world.  With  the  exception  of  a  few 
shrubs  or  smaller  trees,  natives  of  China  and  the  mountains 
of  Central  Asia,  it  belongs  exclusively  to  this  continent,  as 
no  individuals  of  this  order  are  indigenous  to  Europe  or 
Africa.  The  American  species  attracted  the  attention  of 
the  first  botanists  who  came  over  to  examine  the  riches  of 
our  native  flora,  and  were  transplanted  to  the  gardens 
of  England  and  France  more  than  a  hundred  years  ago, 
where  they  are  still  valued  as  the  finest  hardy  trees  of  that 
hemisphere. 

The  Large  Evergreen  Magnolia  (M.  grandijlora),  or 
Big  Laurel,  as  it  is  sometimes  called,  is  peculiarly  indige- 
nous to  that  portion  of  our  country  south  of  North  Carolina, 
where  its  stately  trunk,  often  seventy  feet  in  height,  and 
superb  pyramid  of  deep  green  foliage,  render  it  one  of  the 
loveliest  and  most  majestic  of  trees.  The  leaves,  which 
are  evergreen,  and  somewhat  resemble  those  of  the  laurel 
in  form,  are  generally  six  or  eight  inches  in  length,  thick  in 
texture  and  brilliantly  polished  on  the  upper  surface.  The 
highly  fragrant  flowers  are  composed  of  about  six  petals, 
opening  in  a  wide  cup-like  form,  of  the  most  snowy  white- 
ness of  color.  Scattered  among  the  rich  foliage,  their 
effect  is  exquisitely  beautiful.  The  seeds  are  borne  in  an 
oval,  cone-like  carpel  or  seed-vessel,  composed  of  a  number 
of  cells  which  split  longitudinally,  when  the  stony  seed, 
covered  with  a  bright  red  pulp,  drops  out.  There  are 
several  varieties,  which  have  been  raised  from  the  seed  of 
this  species  abroad ;  the  most  beautiful  is  the  Exmouth 
Magnolia,  with  fine  foliage,  rusty  beneath  ;  it  produces  its 


252  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

flowers  much  earlier  and  more  abundantly  than  the  origm?il 
sort. 

We  regret  that  this  tree  is  too  tender  to  bear  the  open 
air  north  of  Philadelphia,  as  it  is  one  of  the  choicest 
evergreens.  At  the  nurseries  of  the  Messrs.  Landreth, 
and  at  the  Bartram  Botanic  Garden  of  Col.  Carr,  near  that 
city,  some  good  specimens  of  this  Magnolia  and  its 
varieties  are  growing  thriftily ;  but  in  the  State  of  New 
York,  and  at  the  east,  it  can  only  be  considered  a  green- 
house plant. 

The  Cucumber  Magnolia  (C  acuminata),  (so  called 
from  the  appearance  of  the  young  fruit,  which  is  not  unlike 
a  green  cucumber)  takes  the  same  place  in  the  north,  in 
point  of  majesty  and  elevation,  that  the  Big  Laurel 
occupies  in  the  south.  Its  northern  limit  is  Lake  Erie ; 
and  it  abounds  along  the  whole  range  of  the  Alleghanies  to 
the  southward,  in  rich  mountain  acclivities,  and  moist 
sheltered  valleys.  There  it  often  measures  three  or  four 
feet  in  diameter,  and  eighty  in  height.  The  leaves,  which 
are  deciduous,  like  those  of  all  the  Magnolias  except  the  M. 
grandiflora,  are  also  about  six  inches  long  and  four  broad, 
acuminate  at  the  point,  of  a  bluish  green  on  the  upper 
surface.  The  flowers  are  six  inches  in  diameter,  of  a  pale 
yellow,  much  like  those  of  the  Tulip  tree,  and  slightly 
fragrant.  The  fruit  is  about  three  inches  long,  and 
cylindrical  in  shape.  Most  of  the  inhabitants  of  the 
country  bordering  on  the  Alleghanies,  says  Michaux, 
gather  these  cones  about  midsummer,  when  they  are  half 
ripe,  and  steep  them  in  whiskey  ;  the  liquor  produced,  they 
take  as  an  antidote  against  the  fevers  prevalent  in  those 
districts 

The    Umbrella  Magnolia   {M.  tripetala),  though  found 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  253 

sometimes  in  the  northwest  of  New  York,  is  rare  there 
and  abounds  most  in  the  south  and  west.  It  is  a  smaller 
tree  than  the  preceding  kinds,  rarely  growing  more  than 
thirty  feet  high.  The  leaves  on  the  terminal  shoots  are 
disposed  three  or  four  in  a  tuft,  which  has  given  rise  to  the 
name  of  Umbrella  tree.  They  arc  of  fine  size,  eighteen 
inches  or  two  feet  long,  and  seven  or  eight  broad,  oval, 
pointed  at  both  ends  ;  the  flowers  are  also  large,  white, 
and  numerous  ;  and  the  conical  fruit-vessel  containing  the 
seeds,  assumes  a  beautiful  rose-color  in  autumn.  From  its 
fine  tufted  foliage,  and  rapid  growth,  this  is  one  of  the 
most  desirable  species  for  our  pleasure-grounds. 

The  Large-leaved  Magnolia  (M.  macrophylla)  is  the 
rarest  of  the  genus  in  our  forests,  being  only  found  as  yet 
in  North  Carolina.  The  leaves  grow  to  an  enormous  size 
when  the  tree  is  young,  often  measuring  three  feet  long, 
and  nine  or  ten  inches  broad.  They  are  oblong,  oval,  and 
heart-shaped  at  the  base.  The  flowers  are  also  immense, 
opening  of  the  size  of  a  hat-crown,  and  diffusing  a  most 
agreeable  odor.  The  tree  attains  only  a  secondary  size 
and  is  distinguished  in  winter  by  the  whiteness  of  its  bark, 
compared  with  the  others.  It  is  rather  tender  north  ol 
New  York. 

The  Heart-leaved  Magnolia  {M.  cordata)  is  a  beautifui 
southern  species,  distinguished  by  its  nearly  round,  heart 
shaped  foliage,  and  its  yellow  flowers  about  four  inches  in 
diameter.  It  blooms  in  the  gardens  very  young,  and  very 
abundantly,  often  producing  two  crops  in  a  season. 

Magnolia  auriculata  grows  about  forty  feet  high,  and 
is  also  found  near  the  southern  Alleghany  range  of 
mountains.  The  leaves  are  light  green,  eight  or  nine 
inches  long,  widest  at  the  top,   and  narrower  towards  the 


254  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

base,  where  they  are  rounded  into  lobes.  The  flowers  are 
not  so  fine  as  those  of  the  preceding  kinds,  but  still  are 
handsome,  pale  greenish  white,  and  about  four  inches  in 
diameter. 

Besides  these,  there  is  a  smaller  American  Magnolia, 
which  is  the  only  sort  that  in  the  middle  or  eastern 
sections  of  the  Union  grows  within  150  miles  of  the  sea- 
shore. This  is  the  Magnolia  of  the  swamps  of  New 
Jersey  and  the  South  (M.  glauca),  of  which  so  many 
fragrant  and  beautiful  bouquets  are  gathered  in  the  season 
of  its  inflorescence,  brought  to  New  York  and  Philadel- 
phia, and  exposed  for  sale  in  the  markets.  It  is  rather  a 
large  bush,  than  a  tree ;  with  shining,  green,  laurel-like 
leaves,  four  or  five  inches  long,  somewhat  mealy  or 
glaucous  beneath.  The  blossoms,  about  three  inches 
broad,  are  snowy  white,  and  so  fragrant  that  where  they 
abound  in  the  swamps,  their  perfume  is  often  perceptible 
for  the  distance  of  a  quarter  of  a  mile. 

The  foreign  sorts  introduced  into  our  gardens  from 
China,  are  the  Chinese  purple  {M.  purpurea),  which 
produces  an  abundance  of  large  delicate  purple  blossoms 
early  in  the  season  ;  the  Yulan  or  Chinese  White  Magno- 
lia {WI.  conspicua),  a  most  abundant  bloomer,  bearing 
beautiful  white,  fragrant  flowers  in  April,  before  the  leaves 
appear ;  and  Soulange's  Magnolia  {M.  Soulangiana),  a 
hybrid  between  the  two  foregoing,  with  large  flowers 
delicately  tinted  with  white  and  purple.  These  succeed 
well  in  sheltered  situations,  in  our  pleasure-grounds,  and 
add  greatly  to  their  beauty  early  in  the  season.  Grafted 
on  the  cucumber  tree,  they  form  large  and  vigorous  trees 
of  great  beauty. 

The  Magnolia,  in  order  to  thrive  well,  requires  a  deep, 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TltEES.  255 

rich  soil ;  which  in  nearly  all  cases,  to  secure  their 
luxuriance,  should  be  improved  by  adding  thereto  some 
leaf  mould  or  decayed  vegetable  matter  from  the  woods 
When  transplanted  from  the  nursery,  they  should  be 
prefei'red  of  small  or  only  moderate  size,  as  their  succulent 
roots  are  easily  injured,  and  they  recover  slowly  when 
large.  Most  of  them  may  be  propagated  from  seed  ;  but 
they  flower  sooner,  grow  more  vigorously,  and  are  much 
hardier  when  grafted  upon  young  stocks  of  the  Cucumber 
Magnolia.  This  we  have  found  to  be  particularly  the 
case  with  the  Chinese  species  and  varieties. 

All  these  trees  are  such  superbly  beautiful  objects  upon 
a  lawn  in  their  rich  summer  garniture  of  luxuriant  foliage, 
and  large  odoriferous  flowers,  that  they  need  no  further 
recommendation  from  us  to  insure  their  regard  and 
admiration  from  all  persons  who  have  room  for  their 
culture.  If  possible,  situations  somewhat  sheltered  either 
by  buildings  or  other  trees,  should  be  chosen  for  all  the 
species,  except  the  Cucumber  Magnolia,  which  thrives 
well  in  almost  any  aspect  not  directly  open  to  violent 
gales  of  wind. 


The  White-wood,  or  Tulip  Tree.     Liriodendron. 
Nat.  Ord.     Magnoliaceae.  Lin.  Syst.     Polyandria,  Polygynia. 

The  Tulip  tree  belongs  to  the  same  natural  order  as  the 
Magnolias,  and  is  not  inferior  to  most  of  the  latter  in  all 
that  entitles  them  to  rank  among  our  very  finest  forest 
trees. 

The  taller  Magnolias,  as  we  have  already  remarked,  do 


256  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING, 

not  grow  naturally  within  100  or  150  miles  of  the  sea- 
coast  ;  and  the  Tulip  tree  may  be  considered  as  in  some 
measure  supplying  their  place  in  the  middle  Atlantic 
states.  West  of  the  Connecticut  river,  and  south  of  the 
sources  of  the  Hudson,  this  fine  tree  may  be  often  seen 
reaching  in  warm  and  deep  alluvial  soils  80  or  90  feet  in 
height.  But  in  the  western  states,  where  indeed  the 
growth  of  forest  trees  is  astonishingly  vigorous,  this  tree 
far  exceeds  that  altitude.  The  elder  Michaux  mentions 
several  which  he  saw  in  Kentucky,  that  were  fifteen  and 
sixteen  feet  in  girth ;  and  his  son  confirms  the  measure- 
ment of  one,  three  miles  and  a  half  from  Louisville,  which, 
at  five  feet  from  the  ground,  was  found  to  be  twenty-two 
feet  and  six  inches  in  circumference,  with  a  corresponding 
elevation  of  130  feet. 

The  foliage  is  rich  and  glossy,  and  has  a  very  peculiar 
form  ;  being  cut  off,  as  it  were,  at  the  extremity,  and 
slightly  notched  and  divided  into  two-sided  lobes.  The 
breadth  of  the  leaves  is  six  or  eight  inches.  The  flowers, 
which  are  shaped  like  a  large  tulip,  are  composed  of  six 
thick  yellow  petals,  mottled  on  the  inner  surface  with  red 
and  green.  They  are  borne  singly  on  the  terminal  shoots, 
have  a  pleasant,  slight  perfume,  and  are  very  showy. 
The  seed-vessel,  which  ripens  in  October,  is  formed  of  a 
number  of  scales  surrounding  the  central  axis  in  the  form 
of  a  cone.  It  is  remarkable  that  young  trees  under  30  or 
35  feet  high,  seldom  or  never  perfect  their  seeds. 

Whoever  has  once  seen  the  Tulip  tree  in  a  situation 
where  the  soil  was  favorable  to  its  free  growth,  can 
never  forget  it.  With  a  clean  trunk,  straight  as  a 
column,  for  40  or  50  feet,  surmounted  by  a  fine,  ample 
summit   of  rich    green   foliage,  it  is,  in   our  estimatioHj 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  257 

decidedly  the  most  stately  tree  in  North  America. 
When  standing  alone,  and  encouraged  in  its  lateral 
growth,  it  will  indeed  often  produce  a  lower  head,  but 
its  tendency  is  to  rise,  and  it  only  exhibits  itself  in  all 
its  stateliness  and  majesty  when,  supported  on  such  a 
noble  columnar  trunk,  it  towers  far  above  the  heads  of 
its  neighbors  of  the  park  or  forest.  Even  when  at  its 
loftiest  elevation,  its  large  specious  blossoms,  which, 
from  their  form,  one  of  our  poets  has  likened  to  the 
chalice ; 

Through  the  verdant  maze 

The  Tulip  tree 
Its  golden  chalice  oft  triumphantly  displays. 

PiCKERINa. 

jut  out  from  amid  the  tufted  canopy  in  the  month  of  June, 
and  glow  in  richness  and  beauty.  While  the  tree  is  less 
than  a  foot  in  diameter,  the  stem  is  extremely  smooth,  and 
it  has  almost  always  a  refined  and  finished  appearance. 
For  the  lawn  or  park,  we  conceive  the  Tulip  tree 
eminently  adapted  :  its  tall  upright  stem,  and  handsome 
summit,  contrasting  nobly  with  the  spreading  forms  of  most 
deciduous  trees.  It  should  generally  stand  alone,  or  near 
the  border  of  a  mass  of  trees,  where  it  may  fully  display 
itself  to  the  eye,  and  exhibit  all  its  charms  from  the  root 
to  the  very  summit ;  for  no  tree  of  the  same  grandeur  and 
magnitude  is  so  truly  beautiful  and  graceful  in  every 
portion  of  its  trunk  and  branches.  Where  there  is  a  taste 
for  avenues,  the  Tulip  tree  ought  by  all  means  to  be 
employed,  as  it  makes  a  most  magnificent  overarching 
canopy  of  verdure,  supported  on  trunks  almost  archi- 
tectural in  their  symmetry.  The  leaves  also,  from  their 
bitterness,  are  but  little  liable  to  the  attacks  of  any  insect. 

17 


258  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

This  tree  was  introduced  into  England  about  1008  :  and 
IS  now  to  be  found  in  almost  every  gentleman's  park  on  the 
Continent  of  Europe,  so  highly  is  it  esteemed  as  an 
ornamental  tree  of  the  first  class.  We  hope  that  the  fine 
native  specimens  yet  standing,  here  and  there,  in  farm  lands 
along  our  river  banks,  may  be  sacredly  preserved  from 
the  barbarous  infliction  of  the  axe,  which  formerly 
despoiled  without  mercy  so  many  of  the  majestic  denizens 
of  our  native  forests. 

In  the  western  states,  where  this  tree  abounds,  it  is  much 
used  in  building  and  carpentry.  The  timber  is  light  and 
yellow,  and  the  tree  is  commonly  called  the  Yellow  Poplar 
in  those  districts,  from  some  fancied  resemblance  in  the 
wood,  though  it  is  much  heavier  and  more  durable  than 
that  of  the  poplar. 

When  exposed  to  the  weather,  the  wood  is  liable  to 
warp,  but  as  it  is  fine  grained,  light,  and  easily  worked,  it  is 
extensively  employed  for  the  panels  of  coaches,  doors, 
cabinet-work,  and  wainscots.  The  Indians  who  once 
inhabited  these  regions,  hollowed  out  the  trunks,  and  made 
their  canoes  of  them.  There  are  two  sorts  of  timber 
known  ;  viz.  the  Yellow  and  the  White  Poplar,  or  Tulip 
tree.  These,  however,  it  is  well  known  are  the  same 
species  {L.  tulipifera)  ;  but  the  variation  is  brought  about 
by  the  soil,  which  if  dry,  gravelly,  and  elevated,  produces 
the  white,  and  if  rich,  deep,  and  rather  moist,  the  yellow 
timber. 

It  is  rather  difficult  to  transplant  the  Tulip  tree  when  it 
has  attained  much  size,  unless  the  roots  have  undergone 
preparation,  as  will  hereafter  be  mentioned  ;  but  it  is  easily 
propagated  from  seed,  or  obtained  from  the  nurseries,  and 
the  growth  is  then  strong  and  rapid. 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  259 

The  Dogwood  Tree.     Cornus. 
Nat.  Ord.     Comaceae.         Lin.  Syst.     Tetrandria,  Monogynia. 

There  are  a  number  of  small  shrubs  that  belons;  to  this 
genus,  but  the  common  Dogwood  (Cornus  jlorida)  is  the 
only  species  which  has  any  claims  to  rank  as  a  tree.  In 
the  middle  states,  where  it  abounds,  as  well  as  in  most 
other  parts  of  the  Union,  the  maximum  height  is  thirty- 
five  feet,  while  its  ordinary  elevation  is  about  twenty  feet. 

The  Dogwood  is  quite  a  picturesque  small  tree,  and  owes 
its  interest  chiefly  to  the  beauty  of  its  numerous  blossoms 
and  fruit.  The  leaves  are  oval,  about  three  inches  long, 
dark  green  above,  and  paler  below.  In  the  beginning  of 
May,  while  the  foliage  is  beginning  to  expand  rapidly,  and 
before  the  tree  is  in  full  leaf,  the  flowers  unfold,  and 
present  a  beautiful  spectacle,  often  covering  the  whole  tree 
with  their  snowy  garniture.  The  principal  beauty  of 
these  consists  in  the  involucrum  or  calyx,  which,  instead 
of  being  green,  as  is  commonly  the  case,  in  the  Dogwood 
takes  a  white  or  pale  blue  tint.  The  true  flowers  may  be 
seen  collected  in  little  clusters,  and  are,  individually,  quite 
small,  though  surrounded  by  the  involucrum,  which 
produces  all  the  effect  of  a  fine  white  blossom. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  season,  the  Dogwood  is  one  of 
the  gayest  ornaments  of  our  native  woods.  It  is  seen  at 
that  time  to  great  advantage  in  sailing  up  the  Hudson 
river.  There,*  in  the  abrupt  Highlands,  which  rise  boldly 
many  hundred  feet  above  the  level  of  the  river,  patches  of 
the  Dogwood  in  full  bloom  gleam  forth  in  snowy  whiteness 
from  among  the  tender  green  of  the  surrounding  young 
foliage,  and  the  gloomier  shades  of  the  dark  evergreens, 


260  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

which  clothe  with  a  rich  verdure  the  rocks  and  precipices 
that  overhang  the  moving  flood  below. 

The  berries  which  succeed  these  blossoms  become  quite 
red  and  brilliant  in  autumn  ;  and,  as  they  are  plentifully- 
borne  in  little  clusters,  they  make  quite  a  display.  When 
the  sharp  frosts  have  lessened  their  bitterness,  they  are  the 
food  of  the  robin,  which,  at  that  late  season,  eats  them 
greedily. 

The  foliage  in  autumn  is  also  highly  beautiful,  and  must 
be  considered  as  contributing  to  the  charms  of  this  tree. 
The  color  it  assumes  is  a  deep  lake-red ;  and  it  is  at  that 
season  as  easily  known  at  a  distance  by  its  fine  coloring, 
as  the  Maple,  the  Liquidambar,  and  the  Nyssa,  of  which 
we  have  already  spoken.  Taking  into  consideration  all 
these  ornamental  qualities,  and  also  the  fact  that  it  is  every 
day  becoming  scarcer  in  our  native  wilds,  we  think  the 
Dogwood  tree  should  fairly  come  under  the  protection  of 
the  picturesque  planter,  and  well  deserves  a  place  in  the 
pleasure-ground  and  shrubbery. 

The  wood  is  close-grained,  hard,  and  heavy,  and  takes 
a  good  polish.  It  is  too  small  to  enter  into  general  use,  but 
is  often  employed  for  the  lesser  utensils  of  the  farm.  The 
bark  has  been  very  successfully  employed  by  physicians  in 
Philadelphia,  and  elsewhere,  and  is  found  to  possess  nearly 
the  same  properties  as  the  Peruvian  bark.  Bigelow  states 
;n  his  American  Botany,  that  its  use  in  fevers  has  been 
Known  and  practised  in  many  sections  of  the  Union  by  the 
country  people,  for  more  than  fifty  years. 

Besides  this  native  species  there  is  an  European 
dogwood  (Cornus  mascula),  commonly  called  the  Cornelian 
cherry,  which  is  now  planted  in  many  of  our  gardens,  and 
grows  to  the  height  of  twenty  or  thirty  feet.     The  small 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  261 

yellow  flowers  come  out  close  to  the  branches  in  March  or 
April,  and  the  whole  tree  is  quite  handsome  in  autumn, 
from  the  size  and  color  of  its  fine  oval  scarlet  berries. 
These  are  as  large  as  a  small  cherry,  transparent,  and  hang 
for  a  long  time  upon  the  tree.  The  leaves  are  much  like 
those  of  the  common  Dogwood.  Although  the  blossoms 
are  produced  when  the  plant  is  quite  a  bush,  yet  it  must 
attain  some  age  before  the  fruit  sets.  Altogether,  the 
Cornelian  cherry  is  one  of  the  most  desirable  of  small 
trees. 


The  Salisburia,  or  Ginko  Tree. 
Nat.  Ord.     Taxaceae.  Lin.  Syst.     MoncEcia,  Polyandria. 

This  fine  exotic  tree,  which  appears  to  be  perfectly  hardy 
in  this  climate,  is  one  of  the  most  singular  in  its  foliage  that 
has  ever  come  under  our  observation.  The  leaves  are 
wedge-shaped,  or  somewhat  triangular,  attached  to  the 
petioles  at  one  of  the  angles,  and  pale  yellowish  green  in 
color ;  the  ribs  or  veins,  instead  of  diverging  from  the 
central  mid-rib  of  the  leaf,  as  is  commonly  the  case  in 
dicotyledonous  plants,  are  all  parallel ;  in  short,  they  almost 
exactly  resemble  (except  in  being  three  or  four  times  as 
large)  those  of  the  beautiful  Maiden  hair  fern  (Adiantum) 
common  in  our  woods  :  being  thickened  at  the  edges  and 
notched  on  the  margin  in  a  similar  manner.  The  male 
flowers  are  yellow,  sessile  catkins  ;  the  female  is  seated  in  a 
curious  kind  of  cup,  formed  by  the  enlargement  of  the  sum- 
mit of  the  peduncle.  The  fruit  is  a  drupe,  about  an  inch 
in  length,  containing  a  nut,  which,  according  to  Dr.  Abel, 
is  almost  always  to  be  seer,  for  sale  in  the  markets  of  Chma 


262  LANDSCAPE     '.ARDENING. 

and  Japan,  the  native  country  of  this  tree.  They  are  eaten 
after  having  been  roasted  or  boiled,  and  are  considered 
excellent. 

The  Salisburia  was  introduced  into  this  country  by  that 
zealous  amateur  of  horticulture  and  botany,  the  late  Mr. 
Hamilton,  of  Woodlands,  near  Philadelphia,  who  brought 
it  from  England  in  1784,  where  it  had  been  received  from 
Japan  about  thirty  years  previous.  There  are  several  of 
these  now  growing  at  Woodlands  ;  and  the  largest  measures 
sixty  feet  in  height,  and  three  feet  four  inches  in  circum- 
ference. The  next  largest  specimen  which  we  have  seen 
is  now  standing  on  the  north  side  of  that  fine  public  square, 
the  Boston  Common.  It  originally  grew  in  the  grounds 
of  Gardiner  Green,  Esq.,  of  Boston  ;  but  though  of  fine  size, 
it  was,  about  three  years  since,  carefully  removed  to  its 
present  site,  which  proves  its  capability  for  bearing  trans- 
planting. Its  measurement  is  forty  feet  in  elevation,  and 
three  in  circumference.  There  is  also  a  very  handsome 
tree  in  the  grounds  of  Messrs.  Landreth,  Philadelphia,  about 
thirtj^-five  feet  high  and  very  thrifty. 

We  have  not  learned  that  any  of  these  trees  have  yet 
borne  their  blossoms ;  at  any  rate  none  but  male  blossoms 
have  yet  been  produced.  Abroad,  the  Salisburia  has  fruited 
in  the  South  of  France,  and  young  trees  have  been  reared 
from  the  nuts. 

The  bark  is  somewhat  soft  and  leathery,  and  on  the 
trunk  and  branches  assumes  a  singular  tawny  yellow  or 
greyish  color.  The  tree  grows  pretty  rapidly,  and  forms 
an  exceedingly  neat,  loose,  conical,  or  tapering  head.  The 
timber  is  very  solid  and  heavy  ;  and  the  tree  is  said  to  grow 
to  enormous  size  in  its  native  country.  Bunge,  who  accom- 
panied the  mission  from  Russia  to  Pekin,  states  that  he  saw 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  J>u3 

near  a  Pagoda,  an  immense  Ginko  tree,  with  a  trunk 
nearly  forty  feet  in  circumference,  and  still  in  full  vigor  of 
vegetation.* 

Although  nearly  related  to  the  Pine  tribe,  and  forming, 
apparently,  the  connecting  link  between  the  coniferce  and 
exogenous  trees,  yet,  unlike  the  former  tribe,  the  wood  of 
the  tree  is  perfectly  free  from  resin. 

The  Ginko  tree  is  so  great  a  botanical  curiosity,  and  is 
so  singularly  beautiful  when  clad  w^ith  its  fern-like  foliage, 
that  it  is  strikingly  adapted  to  add  ornament  and  interest 
to  the  pleasure  ground.  As  the  foliage  is  of  that  kind  which 
must  be  viewed  near  by  to  understand  its  peculiarity,  and 
as  the  form  and  outline  of  the  tree  are  pleasing,  and  har- 
monize well  with  buildings,  we  would  recommend  that  it 
be  planted  near  the  house,  where  its  unique  character  can 
be  readily  seen  and  appreciated. 

Salishuria  adiantifolia  is  the  only  species.  In  the 
United  States  it  appears  to  flourish  best  in  a  rich  fertile  soil, 
rather  dry  than  otherwise.  South  of  Albany  it  is  perfectly 
hardy,  and  may  therefore  be  considered  a  most  valuable 
acquisition  to  our  catalogue  of  trees  of  the  first  class.  It 
has  hitherto  been  propagated  chiefly  from  layers ;  but  cut- 
tings of  the  preceding  year's  growth,  planted  early  in  the 
spring,  in  a  fine  sandy  loam,  and  kept  shaded  and  watered, 
will  also  root  without  much  difficulty.  When  the  old  trees 
already  mentioned  (which  have  doubtless  been  raised  from 
seed)  begin  to  blossom,  plants  reared  from  them  by  cuttings 
or  grafts,  will,  of  course,  produce  blossoms  and  fruit  much 
more  speedily  than  when  reared  from  the  nut. 

*  Bull,  de  la  Soc.  d'Agr.  du  depart  de  I'Herault.     Aib.  Brit. 


864  LANDSCAPE  GABDENXNG. 

The  American  Cypress  Tree.     Taxodium. 
Nat.  Ord.     Coniferae.  Lin.  Syst.     Monoecia,  Monadelphia. 

The  Southern  or  Deciduous  cypress  (Taxodium  distil 
chum)*  is  one  of  the  most  majestic,  useful,  and  beautiful 
trees  of  the  southern  part  of  North  America.  Naturally,  it 
is  not  found  growing  north  of  Maryland,  or  the  south  part 
of  Delaware,  but  below  that  boundary  it  becomes  extremely 
multiplied.  The  low  grounds  and  alluvial  soils  subject  to 
inundations,  are  constantly  covered  with  this  tree  ;  and  on 
the  banks  of  the  Mississippi  and  other  great  western  rivers, 
for  more  than  600  miles  from  its  mouth,  those  vast  marshes, 
caused  by  the  periodical  bursting  and  overflowing  of  their 
banks,  are  filled  with  huge  and  almost  endless  growths  of 
this  tree,  called  Cypress  swamps.  Beyond  the  boundaries 
of  the  United  States  its  geographical  range  extends  to 
Mexico ;  and  Michaux  estimates  that  it  is  found  more  or 
less  abundantly,  over  a  range  of  country  more  than  3000 
miles  in  extent. 

"  In  the  swamps  of  the  southern  states  and  the  Floridas, 
on  whose  deep,  miry  soil  a  new  layer  of  vegetable  mould 
is  deposited  every  year  by  the  floods,  the  Cypress  attains 
its  utmost  development.  The  largest  stocks  are  120  feet 
in  height,  and  from  25  to  40  feet  in  circumference  above 
the  conical  base,  which  at  the  surface  of  the  earth  is  always 
three  or  four  times  as  large  as  the  continued  diameter  of 
the  trunk ;  in  felling  them,  the  negroes  are  obliged  to  raise 
themselves  upon  scaffolds  five  or  six  feet  from  the  ground 
The  roots  of  the  largest  stocks,  particularly  of  such  as  are 

*  Cupressiis  disticha. 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  265 

most  exposed  to  inundation,  are  charged  with  conical  pro- 
tuberances, commonly  from  eighteen  to  twenty-four  inches, 
and  sometimes  four  or  five  feet  in  thickness  ;  these  are 
always  hollow,  smooth  on  the  surface,  and  covered  with  a 
reddish  bark,  like  the  roots,  which  they  resemble  also  in  the 
softness  of  their  wood  ;  they  exhibit  no  sign  of  vegetation, 
and  I  have  never  succeeded  in  obtaining  shoots  by  wound- 
ing their  surface  and  covering  them  with  the  earth.  No 
cause  can  be  assigned  for  their  existence  :  they  are  peculiar 
to  the  Cypress,  and  begin  to  appear  when  it  is  twenty  or 
twenty-five  feet  in  height ;  they  are  not  made  use  of  except 
by  the  negroes  for  bee-hives." 

"  The  foliage  is  open,  light,  and  of  a  fresh,  agreeable 
tint ;  each  leaf  is  four  or  five  inches  long,  and  consists  of 
two  parallel  rows  of  leaflets,  upon  a  common  stem.  The 
leaflets  are  small,  fine,  and  somewhat  arching,  with  the 
convex  side  outwards.  In  the  autumn,  they  change  from 
a  light  green  to  a  dull  red,  and  are  shed  soon  after." 

"  The  Cypress  blooms  in  Carolina  about  the  first  of 
February.  The  male  and  female  flowers  are  borne 
separately,  by  the  same  tree  ;  the  first  in  flexible  pendulous 
aments,  and  the  second  in  bunches,  scarcely  apparent. 
The  cones  are  about  as  large  as  the  thumb,  hard,  round, 
of  an  uneven  surface,  and  stored  with  small,  irregular, 
ligneous  seeds,  containing  a  cylindrical  kernel ;  they  are 
ripe  in  October,  and  retain  their  productive  virtue  for  two 
vears."* 

Such  is  the  account  given  of  the  Cypress  in  its  native 
soils.  In  the  middle  states  it  is  planted  only  as  an  orna- 
mental tree ;  and  while,  in  the  South,  its  great  abundance 

«  N.  A.  Sylva.  ii.  332. 


266  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

causes  it  to  be  neglected  or  disregarded  as  such,  its  raritj 
here  allows  us  fully  to  appreciate  its  beauty.  North  of  the 
43°  of  latitude  it  will  not  probably  stand  the  winter  without 
protection ;  but  south  of  that,  it  will  attain  a  good  size. 
The  finest  planted  specimen  which  we  have  seen,  and  one 
which  is  probably  equal  in  grandeur  to  almost  any  in  their 
native  swamps,  is  growing  in  the  Bartram  Botanic  Garden, 
near  Philadelphia.  That  garden  was  founded  by  the  fathei 
of  American  botanists,  John  Bartram,  who  explored  the 
southern  and  western  territories,  then  vast  wilds,  at  the 
peril  of  his  life,  to  furnish  the  savans  and  gardens  of 
Europe,  with  the  productions  of  the  new  world,  and  who 
commenced  the  living  collection,  now  unequalled,  of 
American  trees,  in  his  own  garden.  In  the  lower  part  of 
it  stands  the  great  Cypress,  a  tree  of  noble  dimensions, 
measuring  at  this  time  130  feet  in  height  and  25  in  circum- 
fei'ence.  The  tree  was  held  by  Bartram's  son,  William, 
while  his  father  assisted  in  planting  it,  ninety-nine  years 
ago.  The  elder  Bartram  at  the  time  expressed  to  his  son, 
the  hope  that  the  latter  might  live  to  see  it  a  large  tree. 
Long  before  he  died  (not  many  years  since),  it  had  become 
the  prodigy  of  the  garden,  and  great  numbers  from  the 
neighboring  city  annually  visit  it,  to  admire  its  vast  size, 
and  rechne  beneath  its  ample  shade. 

The  foliage  of  the  Cypress  is  peculiar ;  for  while  it  has 
a  resemblance  to  the  Hemlock,  Yew,  and  other  evergreen 
trees,  its  cheerful,  bright  green  tint,  and  loose  airy  tufts  of 
foliage,  give  it  a  character  of  great  lightness  and  elegance. 
In  young  trees,  the  form  of  the  head  is  pyramidal  or 
pointed ;  but  when  they  become  old,  Michaux  remarks,  the 
head  becomes  widely  spread,  and  even  depressed,  thus 
assuming  a  remarkably  picturesque  aspect.     This  is  also 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  267 

heightened  by  the  deep  furrows  or  channels  in  the  trunk, 
and  the  singular  excrescences  or  knobs  already  described, 
which,  jutting  above  the  surface  of  the  ground,  give  a 
strange  ruggedness  to  the  surface  beneath  the  shadow  of 
its  branches.  A  single  Cypress  standing  alone,  like  that  in 
the  Bartram  Garden,  is  a  grand  object,  uniting  with  the 
expression  of  great  elegance  and  '  lightness  in  its  foliage. 
that  of  magnificence,  when  we  perceive  its  extraordinary 
height,  and  huge  stem  and  branches. 

In  composition,  the  Cypress  produces  the  happiest  effect, 
when  it  is  planted  with  the  hemlock  and  firs,  with  which 
it  harmonizes  well  in  the  form  of  its  foliage,  while  its 
soft  light  green  hue  is  beautifully  opposed  to  the  richer  and 
darker  tints  of  those  thickly-clad  evergreens.  Wherever 
there  is  a  moist  and  rather  rich  soil,  the  Cypress  may  be 
advantageously  planted  :  for  although  we  have  seen  it 
thrive  well  on  a  fertile  dry  loam,  yet  to  attain  all  its  lofty 
proportions,  it  requires  a  soil  where  its  thirsty  roots  can 
drink  in  a  sufficient  supply  of  moisture.  There  its  growth 
is  quite  rapid  ;  and  although  it  may,  at  first,  suffer  a  little 
from  the  cold  at  the  north,  in  severe  winters,  yet  it 
continues  its  progress,  and  ultimately  becomes  a  stately 
tree. 

In  many  parts  of  the  southern  states,  the  timber  of  this 
tree,  which  is  of  excellent  quality,  is  extensively  used  in 
the  construction  of  the  framework  and  outer  covering  of 
houses.  It  is  also  esteemed  for  shingles  ;  and  a  large  trade 
has  long  been  carried  on  from  the  south  in  Cypress 
shingles.  Posts  made  of  this  tree  are  found  to  be  very 
lasting ;  and  it  is  also  employed  for  water-pipes,  masts  of 
«ressels,  etc.     In  the  north,  its  place  is  supplied  by  the  Pine 


268  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING 

timber,  but  in  many  southern  cities,  particularly  New 
Orleans,  it  will  be  found  to  enter  into  the  composition  of 
almost  every  building. 

In  the  nurseries,  the  Cypress  is  usually  propagated  from 
the  seed ;  and  as  it  sends  down  strong  roots,  it  should  be 
transplanted  where  it  is  finally  to  grow  before  it  attains  too 
great  a  development. 

The  European  Cypress  {Cupressus  sempervirens),  a 
beautiful  evergreen  tree,  shaped  like  a  small  Lombardy 
poplar,  which  is  the  principal  ornament  of  the  churchyards 
and  cemeteries  abroad,  is  unfortunately  too  tender  to 
endure  the  winter  in  any  of  the  states  north  of  Virginia. 
South  of  that  state,  it  may  probably  become  naturalized, 
and  serve  to  add  to  the  catalogue  of  beautiful  indigenous 
evergreen  trees. 

From  its  dark  and  sombre  tint,  and  perpetual  verdure,  it 
is  peculiarly  the  emblem  of  grief: 

"  Binde  you  my  brows  with  mourning  Cyparesse, 
And  palish  twigs  of  deadlier  poplar  tree. 
Or  if  some  sadder  shades  ye  can  devise. 
Those  sadder  shades  vaile  my  light-loathing  eyes." 

Bp.  Hall. 


The  Larch  Tree.     Larix. 
Nat.  Ord.     Coniferae.         Lin.  Syst.     Monojcia,  Monadelphia. 

The  Larch  is  a  resinous,  cone-bearing  tree,  belonging 
to  the  Pine  family,  but  differing  from  that  genus  in  the 
annual  shedding  of  its  leaves  like  other  deciduous  trees, 
[n  Europe  it  is  a  native  of  the  coldest  parts  o "  the  Alps 
and  Appenines  ;  and  in  America,  is  indigenous  t  >  the  most 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES. 


269 


northern  parts  of  the  Union,  and  the  Canadas.  The  leaves 
are  collected  in  little  bunches,  and  the  branches  shoot  out 
from  the  main  stem  in  a  horizontal,  or,  more  generally, 
in  a  dechning  position. 


^^^^^ 


[Fig.  39.    The  European  Larch.] 


For  picturesque  beauty,  the  Larch  is  almost  unrivalled. 
Unlike  most  other  trees  which  must  grow  old,  uncouth,  and 
misshapen  before  they  can  attain  that  expression,  this  is 
singularly  so,  as  soon  almost  as  it  begins  to  assume  the 
stature  of  a  tree.  It  can  never  be  called  a  beautiful  tree, 
so  far  as  beauty  consists  in  smooth  outlines,  a  finely  rounded 
head,  or  gracefully  drooping  branches.  But  it  has  what  is 
perhaps  more  valuable,  as  being  more  rare, — the  expression 
of  boldness  and    picturesqueness   peculiar   to   itself,  and 


270  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

which  it  seems  to  have  caught  from  the  wild  and  rugged 
chasms,  rocks,  and  precipices  of  its  native  mountains. 
There  its  irregular  and  spiry  top  and  branches,  harmonize 
admirably  with  the  abrupt  variation  of  the  surroundmg 
hills,  and  suit  well  with  the  gloomy  grandeur  of  those 
frowning  heights. 

Like  all  highly  expressive  and  characteristic  trees,  much 
more  care  is  necessary  in  introducing  the  Larch  into 
artificial  scenery  judiciously,  than  round-headed  trees.  If 
planted  in  abundance,  it  becomes  monotonous,  from  the 
similitude  of  its  form  in  different  specimens ;  it  should 
therefore  be  introduced  sparingly,  and  always  for  some 
special  purpose.  This  purpose  may  be  either  to  give  spirit 
to  a  group  of  other  trees,  to  strengthen  the  already  pic- 
turesque character  of  a  scene,  or  to  give  life  and  variety 
to  one  naturally  tame  and  uninteresting.  All  these  objects 
can  be  fully  effected  by  the  Larch  ;  and  although  it  is  by 
far  the  most  suited  to  harmonize  with  and  strengthen  the 
expression  of  scenery  naturally  grand,  or  picturesque,  with 
which  it  most  readily  enters  into  combination ;  yet,  in  the 
hands  of  taste,  there  can  be  no  reason  why  so  marked  a 
tree  should  not  be  employed  in  giving  additional  expression 
to  scenery  of  a  tamer  character. 

The  extremely  rapid  growth  of  this  tree  when  planted 
upon  thin,  barren,  and  dry  soils,  is  another  great  merit 
which  it  possesses  as  an  ornamental  tree  ;  and  it  is  also  a 
necessary  one  to  enable  it  to  thrive  well  on  those  very 
rocky  and  barren  soils,  where  it  is  most  in  character  with 
the  surrounding  objects.  It  is  highly  valuable  to  produce 
effect  or  shelter  suddenly,  on  portions  of  an  estate,  too  thin 
or  meagre  in  their  soil  to  afford  the  sustenance  necessary 
to  the  growth  of  many  other  deciduous  trees. 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  271 

The  Larch  is  the  great  timber  tree  of  Europe.  Its  wood 
is  remarkably  heavy,  strong,  and  durable,  exceeding  in  all 
those  qualities  the  best  English  oak.  To  these,  it  is  said  to 
add  the  peculiarity  of  being  almost  uninflammable,  and 
resisting  the  influence  of  heat  for  a  long  time.  Yitruvius 
relates  that  when  Caesar  attacked  the  castle  of  Larignum, 
near  the  Alps,  whose  gate  was  commanded  by  a  tower  built 
of  this  wood,  from  the  top  of  which  the  besieged  annoyed 
him  with  their  stones  and  darts,  he  commanded  his  army  to 
surround  it  with  fagots,  and  set  fire  to  the  whole.  When, 
however,  all  the  former  were  consumed,  he  was  astonished 
to  find  the  Larcli  tower  uninjured.*  The  wood  is  also 
recommended  for  the  decks  of  vessels  and  the  masts  of 
ships,  as  it  is  little  liable  either  to  fly  in  splinters  during  an 
engagement  or  to  catch  fire  readily. 

[n  Great  Britain,  immense  plantations  of  this  tree  are 
made  with  a  view  to  profit ;  and  although  as  yet  nothing 
like  rearing  trees  for  timber  has  been  attempted  here, 
nevertheless  the  time  must  come  when  our  attention  will 
necessarily  be  turned  in  this  direction.  When  such  is  the 
case,  it  is  probable  that  the  Larch  will  be  found  to  be  as 
much  an  object  of  profit  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic  as  on 
the  other.  Indeed,  we  are  much  inclined  to  believe  that 
thousands  of  acres  of  our  sterile  soils  in  some  districts, 
might  now  be  profitably  planted  with  this  tree. 

In  Scotland,  the  Larch  was  first  introduced  in  the  yeai 
1738,  when  eleven  plants  were  given  to  the  Duke  of  Athol, 
who  afterwards,  struck  by  the  rapidity  of  their  growth  and 
the  excellency  of  their  timber,  planted  thousands  of  acres 
with   them      As    a  specimen  of  what  is  done  in  timb<»» 

*  Newton's  Vitruvius,  ■;.  4-j. 


272  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

growing  abroad,  and  the  peculiar  capacity  of  the  Larch  foi 
thriving  on  poor  soils,  we  shall  make  some  extracts  from 
the  account  given  of  its  growth  in  Scotland,  by  Sir  T.  1) 
Lauder. 

The  late  Duke  of  Athol  planted  large  districts  with  this 
tree,  and  thereby  converted  the  heathy  wastes  into  valuable 
forests  ;  but  this  was  not  the  whole  of  the  improvement  he 
thus  created.  The  Larch  being  a  deciduous  tree,  sheds 
upon  the  earth  so  great  a  shower  of  decayed  spines  every 
succeeding  autumn,  that  the  annual  addition  which  is  made 
to  the  soil  cannot  be  less  than  from  a  third  of  an  inch  to 
half  an  inch,  according  to  the  magnitude  of  the  trees.  This 
we  have  had  opportunities  of  proving  by  our  remarks  made 
on  the  surfaces  of  newly  cleaned  pleasure  walks.  The 
result  qf  planting  a  moor  with  Larches  then,  is,  that  when 
the  trees  have  grown  so  much  as  to  exclude  the  air  and 
moisture  from  the  surface,  the  heath  is  soon  exterminated ; 
and  the  soil  gradually  increasing  by  the  decomposition  of 
the  leaflets  annually  thrown  down  by  the  Larches,  grass 
begins  to  grow  as  the  trees  rise  in  elevation,  so  as  to  allow 
greater  freedom  for  the  circulation  of  the  air  below, — and 
thus,  land  which  was  not  worth  one  shilling  an  acre  be- 
comes most  valuable  pasture  ;  and  we  can  say  that  our 
own  experience  amply  bears  out  the  fact.  The  Duke  of 
Athol  found  that  the  value  of  the  pasture  in  oak  copses 
was  worth  five  or  six  shillings  (sterling)  per  acre  for  eight 
years  only  in  twenty-four,  when  the  copse  is  cut  down 
again.  Under  a  Scotch  fir  plantation  it  is  not  worth  six- 
pence more  per  acre  than  it  was  before  it  was  planted ; 
under  Beech  and  Spruce,  it  is  worth  less  than  it  was  before. 
But  under  Larch,  where  the  ground  was  not  worth  one  shil- 
ling per  acre,  befor'^  it  was  planted,  the  pasture  becomes 


Fit;.  13.     Kxaniple  ol'tlie  beautiful  in  liaudscape  Ganleiiiiiir, 


Kiy.  lii      l'",x;uupii^  of  tlio  Pictuiesriuf  in  l,:iiiilf>capi'  (ranloiunt 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  273 

worth  from  eight  to  ten  shillings  per  acre,  after  the  first 
thirty  years,  when  all  the  thinnings  have  been  completed, 
and  the  trees  left  for  naval  purposes,  at  the  rate  of  foui 
hundred  to  the  acre,  and  twelve  feet  apart. 

The  Larch  is  a  very  quick  grower.  Between  1740  and 
1744,  eleven  trees  were  planted  at  Blair,  the  girths  of 
which,  at  growths  from  seventy-three  to  seventy-six  years, 
ranged  from  eight  feet  two  inches  to  ten  feet.  This  lot 
was  calculated  to  average  one  hundred  feet  each,  in  the 
whole  one  thousand  two  hundred  feet.  The  total  measure- 
ment of  this  lot  of  twenty-two  trees,  therefore,  is  two  thou- 
sand six  hundred  and  forty-five  feet,  which,  at  the  moderate 
value  of  two  shillings  per  foot,  would  give  the  sum  of 
£264  10s.  ($1174)  for  twenty-two  Larch  trees,  of  something 
under  eighty  years'  old.  We  find  by  the  Duke  of  Athol's 
tables  of  measurement,  that  trees  planted  by  him  in  1743 
were  nine  feet  three  inches  in  circumference,  when  mea 
sured  at  four  feet  from  the  ground,  in  1795. 

The  plantations  of  Larch  made  by  James  Duke  of 
Athol,  between  1733  and  1759,  amounted  to  one  thousand 
nine  hundred  and  twenty-eight  trees.  Of  these,  eight 
hundred  and  seventy-three  were  cut  down  between  1809 
and  1816.  The  Duke  of  Athol  had  the  satisfaction  to 
behold  a  British  frigate  built  in  1819  and  1820  at  Woolwich 
yard,  out  of  timber  planted  at  Blair  and  Dunkeld,  by 
himself  and  the  Duke  his  predecessor.  And  the  extensive 
and  increasing  Larch  forests  of  those  districts  may  yet  be 
called  upon  largely  to  supply  both  naval  and  mercantile 
dock-yards.  Mankind  are  prone  to  cherish  and  embalm 
the  memory  of  individuals  whose  claims  to  notoriety  have 
originated  in  their  wide-spread  destruction  of  the  human 
race  ;  but  they  are  too  apt  to  forget  those  who  have  been 

18 


274 


LANDSCAPE    GARDENING. 


the  benefactors  of  mankind.  That  a  vessel  formed  from 
trees  of  his  introduction  and  planting  should  have  v^raved 
the  British  flag  over  the  ocean,  is  likely  to  be  all  the 
reward  contemporaneous  or  posthumous,  which  will  ever 
adhere  to  the  noble  Duke,  for  the  great  good  he  has  done 
to  his  country,  and  for  the  blessed  legacy  he  has  left  to  his 
descendants,  by  the  plantation  of  about  fifteen  thousand 
five  hundred  and  seventy-three  English  acres  of  ground, 
which  consumed  above  twenty-seven  millions,  four  hundred 
and  thirty-one  thousand,  and  six  hundred  trees. 

The  following  is  the  probable  supply  of  Larch  timber 
from  Athol,  beginning  twelve  years  from  1817. 


12  years  before  cutting,  or 
12  years  before  cutting, 
10     do.  do. 

8  do.     do. 

8  do.     do. 
16  do.     do. 

3  do.     do. 


in  1829 
1841 
1851 
1859 
1867 
1883 
1886 


Loads  annually. 

4^50 

8,000  ) 

18,000  } 

30,000  ) 

52,000  ) 

120,000  \ 


(  years  calculated  to  finish  )  1039         130  000 
(      plants  marked  out.      ) 


Scotch  acres  abonC 

2000 
3000 

1500 


72  j'ears. 


Scotch  acres,  7000 


The  Larch  is  unquestionably  the  most  enduring  timber 
that  we  have.  It  is  remarkable,  that  whilst  the  red  wood 
or  heart  wood  is  not  formed  at  all  in  the  other  resinous 
trees,  till  they  have  lived  for  a  good  many  years,  the  Larch, 
on  the  contrary,  begins  to  make  it  soon  after  it  is  planted  ; 
and  while  you  may  fell  a  Scotch  fir  of  thirty  years  old, 
and  find  no  red  wood  in  it,  you  can  hardly  cut  down  a 
young  Larch  large  enough  to  be  a  walking  stick,  without 
finding  just  such  a  proportion  of  red  wood  compared  to  its 
diameter  as  a  'ree,  as  you  will  find  in  the  largest  Larch  tree 
in  the  forest,  compared  to  its  diameter.     To  prove  the 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TllEiJS-  275 

value  of  the  Larch  as  a  timber  tree,  several  experiments 
were  made  in  the  river  Thames.  Posts  of  equal  thickness 
and  strength,  some  of  Larch  and  others  of  oak,  were 
driven  down  facing  the  river  wall,  where  they  were 
alternately  covered  with  water  by  the  effect  of  the  tide, 
and  then  left  dry  by  its  fall.  This  species  of  alternation  is 
the  most  trying  of  all  circumstances  for  the  endurance  of 
timber ;  and  accordingly  the  oaken  posts  decayed,  and 
were  twice  renewed  in  the  course  of  a  very  few  years, 
while  those  that  were  made  of  the  Larch  remained 
altogether  unchanged. 

Besides  the  foregoing  species  {Larix  Europea)  we  have 
two  native  sorts  much  resembling  it ;  which  are  chiefly 
found  in  the  states  of  Maine,  Vermont,  and  New 
Hampshire.  These  are  known  by  the  names  of  the  Red 
Larch  (L.  Microcarpa)  and  the  Black  Larch  {L.  pendula), 
which  latter  is  often  called  Hackmatack.  In  the  coldest 
parts  of  the  Union,  these  often  grow  to  80  and  100  feet 
high ;  but  in  the  middle  states  they  are  only  seen  in 
the  swamps,  and  appear  not  to  thrive  so  well  except  in 
such  situations.  For  this  reason  the  European  Larch  is 
of  course  greatly  preferable  when  plantations  are  to  be 
made,  either  for  profit  or  ornament.  The  latter  is 
generally  increased  from  seed  in  the  nurseries. 

The  American  Larches  are  well  worthy  a  place  where 
sufficient  moisture  can  be  commanded,  as  their  peculiar 
forms  are  striking,  though  not  so  finely  picturesque  as  that 
of  the  European  species. 

In  the  upper  part  of  Massachusetts,  we  have  observed 
them  in  their  native  soils  growing  70  or  80  feet  high,  and 
assuming  a  highly  pleasing  appearance.  Their  foliage  is 
bluish-green,  and  more  delicate ;  yet  altogether  the  Ame- 


276  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

rican  Larch  appears  to  be  more  stiff  and  formal  (excepi 
far  north)  than  the  foreign  tree. 


The  Viegilia  Tree.     Virgilia* 

Nat.  Ord.     Leguminaceae.         Lin.  Sysl.     Decandria,  Monogynia. 

This  fine  American  tree,  still  very  rare  in  our  orna- 
mental plantations,  is  a  native  of  West  Tennessee,  and  the 
banks  of  the  Kentucky  river,  and  in  its  wild  localities 
seems  confined  to  rather  narrow  limits.  It  was  named, 
when  first  discovered,  after  the  poet  Virgil,  whose 
agreeable  Georgics  have  endeared  him  to  all  lovers  of 
nature  and  a  country  life. 

The  Virgilia  is  certainly  one  of  the  most  beautiful  of 
all  that  class  of  trees  bearing  papilionaceous,  or  pea-shaped 
flowers,  and  pinnate  leaves,  of  which  the  common  locust 
may  serve  as  a  familiar  example.  It  grows  to  a  fine, 
rather  broad  head,  about  30  or  40  feet  high,  with  dense 
and  luxuriant  foliage — much  more  massy  and  finely  tufted 
than  that  of  most  other  pinnated-leaved  trees.  Each  leaf 
is  composed  of  seven  or  eight  leaflets,  three  or  four  inches 
long,  and  half  that  breadth,  the  whole  leaf  being  more  than 
a  foot  in  length.  These  expand  rather  late  in  the  spring, 
and  are,  about  the  middle  of  May,  followed  by  numerous 
terminal  racemes,  or  clusters,  of  the  most  delicate  and 
charming  pea-shaped  blossoms,  of  a  pure  white.  These 
clusters  are  six  or  eight  inches  in  length,  and  quite  broad, 
the  flowers  daintily  formed,  and  arranged  in  a  much  more 
graceful,  loose,  and  easy  manner,  than  those  of  the  locust 

*  Cladeastris  tinctoria.     Torrey  and  Gray. 


DECIDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  27'5 

They  have  a  very  agreeable,  slight  perfume,  especially  in 
the  evening,  and  the  whole  effect  of  the  tree,  when 
standing  singly  on  a  lawn  and  filled  with  blossoms,  U 
highly  elegant. 

When  the  blossoms  disappear,  they  are  followed  by  the 
pods,  about  the  fourth  of  an  inch  wide,  and  three  or  four 
inches  long,  containing  a  few  seeds.  These  ripen  in  July 
or  August. 

This  tree  is  frequently  called  the  Yellow-wood  in  its 
native  haunts — its  heart  wood  abounding  in  a  fine  yellow 
coloring  matter,  which,  however,  is  said  to  be  rather 
difficult  to  fix,  or  render  permanent.  The  bark  is 
beautifully  smooth,  and  of  a  greenish  grey  color.  In 
autumn,  the  leaves,  when  they  die  off",  take  a  lively  yellow 
tint. 

This  tree  grows  pretty  rapidly,  and  is  very  agreeable  in 
its  form  and  foliage,  even  while  young.  It  commences 
flowering  when  about  ten  or  fifteen  feet  high,  and  we  can 
recommend  it  with  confidence  to  the  amateur  of  choice 
trees  as  worthy  of  a  conspicuous  place  in  the  smallest 
collection. 

The  only  species  known  is  Virgilia  lutea.  It  was  first 
described  by  Michaux,  and  was  sent  to  England  about 
the  year  1812.  Quite  the  finest  planted  specimens  within 
our  knowledge  are  growing  in  some  of  the  old  seats  in  the 
northern  suburbs  of  Philadelphia,  where  there  are  several 
thirty  or  forty  feet  in  height,  and  exceedingly  beautiful, 
both  in  their  form  and  blossoms.  A  small  specimen 
on  our  lawn,  eighteen  feet  high,  blossoms  now  very  pro- 
fusely. 


878  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

The  Paulownia  Tree.     Faulownia. 

Nat.  Ord.     Scrophulariaceae.  Lin.  Syst. 


The  Paulownia  is  an  entirely  new  ornamental  tree,  ver} 
lately  introduced  into  our  gardens  and  pleasure-grounds 
from  Japan,  and  is  likely  to  prove  hardy  here,  wherever 
the  Ailantus  stands  the  winter,  being  naturally  from  the 
same  soil  and  climate  as  that  tree.  It  has  already  attained 
a  great  notoriety  in  the  gardening  world  of  the  other 
continent ;  and  from  a  cost  of  four  or  five  guineas  a  plant, 
it  is  now  reduced  to  as  many  shillings,  being  very  readily 
propagated.  In  the  north  of  France  it  is  perfectly  hardy, 
and  will  no  doubt  prove  equally  so  here,  south  of  the 
latitude  of  Boston.  With  our  own  plants  being  newly 
received,  we  have  not  yet  had  the  opportunity  of  testing 
this  point. 

The  Paulownia  is  remarkable  for  the  large  size  of  its 
foHage,  and  the  great  rapidity  of  its  growth.  The  largest 
leaves  are  more  than  two  feet  in  diameter,  slightly  rough 
or  hairy,  and  serrated  on  the  edges.  They  are  heart- 
shaped,  and  have  been  likened  to  those  of  the  Catalpa,  but 
they  perhaps  more  nearly  resemble  those  of  the  common 
sun-flower. 

In  its  growth,  this  tree,  while  young,  equals  or  exceeds 
the  Ailantus.  In  rich  soils,  near  Paris,  it  has  produced 
shoots,  in  a  single  season,  12  or  14  feet  in  length.  After 
being  two  or  three  years  planted,  it  commences  yielding 
its  blossoms  in  panicled  clusters.  These  are  bluish  lilac, 
of  an  open  mouthed,  tubular  form,  are  very  abundantly 
distributed,  and,  together  with  the  large  foliage,  and  the 
robust  habit  of  growth,  give  this  tree  a  gay  and  striking 


DEeiDUOUS    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  27D 

appearance.  Its  flower  buds  open  during  the  lasi  of 
April,  or  early  in  May,  and  have  a  slight,  syringa-like 
perfume. 

The  Paulownia,  though  yet  very  rare,  is  easy  of 
propagation  by  cuttings ;  and  even  pieces  of  the  roots 
grow  freely.  Should  it  prove  as  hardy  as  (from  our  fine 
dry  summers  for  ripening  its  wood)  we  confidently 
anticipate,  it  will  be  worthy  of  a  prominent  place  in  every 
arrangement  of  choice  ornamental  trees. 


880  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING- 


SECTION    V. 

EVERGREEN     ORNAMENTAL     TREES. 
The  History  and  Description  of  all  the  finest  Hardy  Evergreen  Trees.     Remarks  on 

THEIR     EFFECTS    in     LANDSCAPE     GARDENING,     InDIVIDUALLT    AND     IN      CoMPOSlTIOll. 

Their   Cultivation,  etc.     The  Pines.      The  Firs.    The  Cedar   of   Lebanon,  and  the 
Deodar  Cedar.    The  Red  Cedar.    The  Arbor  Vita;.    The  Holly.    The  Yew,  etc. 

Beneath  the  forest's  skirt  I  rest, 

Whose  branching  Pines  rise  dark  and  high. 

And  hear  the  breezes  of  the  West 
Among  the  threaded  foHage  sigh. 

Brtast. 

The  Pine  Tree.     Pinus. 

Nat.  Ord.     Coniferae.  Lin.  Syst.     Monoecia,  Monadelphia. 


^  H  E  Pines  compose  by  far  the  most 
important  genus  of  evergreen  trees. 
In  either  continent  they  form  the 
densest  and  m.ost  extensive  forests 
known,  and  their  wood  in  civil  and  naval  architecture, 
and  for  various  other  purposes,  is  more  generally  used 
than  any  other.  In  the  United  States  and  the  Canadas, 
there  are  ten  species ;  in  the  territory  west  of  the 
Mississippi  to  the  Pacific,  including  Mexico,  there  are 
fourteen ;  in  Europe  fourteen  ;  in  Asia,  eight,  and  in 
Africa,  two  species.     All  the  colder  parts  of  the  old  world 


EVERGREEN    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  281 

— the  mountains  of  Switzerland  and  the  Alps,  the  shores 
of  the  Baltic,  vast  tracts  in  Norway,  Sweden,  Germany, 
Poland,  and  Russia,  as  well  as  millions  of  acres  in  our 
own  country,  abound  with  immense  and  interminable 
forests  of  Pine.  Capable  of  enduring  extreme  cold, 
growing  on  thin  soils,  and  flourishing  in  an  atmosphere, 
the  mean  temperature  of  which  is  not  greater  than  37°  or 
38°  Fahrenheit,  they  are  found  as  far  north  as  latitude 
68°  in  Lapland ;  while  on  mountains  they  grow  at  a 
greater  elevation  than  any  other  arborescent  plant.  On 
Mount  Blanc,  the  Pines  grow  within  2,800  feet  of  the  line 
of  perpetual  snow.*  In  Mexico,  also,  Humboldt  found 
them  higher  than  any  other  tree ;  and  Lieut.  Glennie 
describes  them  as  growing  in  thick  forests  on  the  mountain 
of  Popocatapetl,  as  high  as  12,  693  feet,  beyond  which 
altitude  vegetation  ceases  entirely. f 

The  Pines  are,  most  of  them,  trees  of  considerable 
magnitude  and  lofty  growth,  varying  from  40  to  150  or 
even  200  feet  in  height  in  favorable  situations,  rising  with 
a  perpendicular  trunk,  which  is  rarely  divided  into 
branches  bearing  much  proportionate  size  to  the  main 
stem,  as  in  most  deciduous  trees.  The  branches  are 
much  more  horizontal  than  those  of  the  latter  class 
(excepting  the  Larch).  The  leaves  are  linear  or  needle- 
shaped,  and  are  always  found  arranged  in  little  parcels 
of  from  two  to  six,  the  number  varying  in  the  different 
species.  The  blossoms  are  produced  in  spring,  and  the 
seeds,  borne  in  cones,  are  not  ripened,  in  many  sorts,  until 
the  following  autumn.  Every  part  of  the  stem  abounds 
in  a  resinous  juice,  which  is  extracted,  and  forms  in  the 

*  Edinburgh  Phil.  Joura. 

t  Proc.  Geological  Soc.  Lond.      Arb.  Brit. 


282  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

various  shapes  of  tar,  pitch,  rosin,  turpentine,  balsam,  etc.; 
a  considerable  article  of  trade  and  export. 

As  ornamental  trees,  the  Pines  are  peculiarly  valuable 
for  the  deep  verdure  of  their  foliage,  which,  unchanged  by 
the  severity  of  the  seasons,  is  beautiful  at  all  periods,  and 
especially  so  in  winter ;  for  the  picturesque  forms  which 
many  of  them  assume  when  fully  grown  ;  and  for  the 
effectual  shelter  and  protection  which  they  afford  in  cold, 
bleak,  and  exposed  situations.  We  shall  here  particular- 
ize those  species,  natives  of  either  hemisphere,  that  are 
most  valuable  to  the  planter,  and  are  also  capable  of 
enduring  the  open  air  of  the  middle  states. 

The  White  Pine  (P.  st7-obus),  called  also  Sapling  Pine, 
and  Apple  Pine,  in  various  parts  of  this  country,  and 
Weymouth  Pine  abroad,  is  undoubtedly  the  most  beautiful 
North  American  tree  of  the  genus.  The  foliage  is  much 
lighter  in  color,  more  delicate  in  texture,  and  the  whole 
tufting  of  the  leaves  more  airy  and  pleasing  than  that  of 
the  other  species.  It  is  also  beautiful  in  every  stage  of  its 
growth,  from  a  plant  to  a  stately  tree  of  150  feet.  When 
it  grows  in  strong  soil,  it  becomes  thick  and  compact  in  its 
head ;  but  its  most  beautiful  form  is  displayed  when  it 
stands  in  a  dry  and  gravelly  site  ;  there  it  shoots  up  with  a 
majestic  and  stately  shaft,  studded  every  six  or  eight  feet 
with  horizontal  tiers  of  branches  and  foliage.  The  hue  of 
the  leaves  is  much  paler  and  less  sombre  than  that  of  the 
other  native  sorts ;  and  being  less  stiffly  set  upon  the 
branches,  is  more  easily  put  in  motion  by  the  wind ;  the 
murmuring  of  the  wind  among  the  Pine  tops  is,  peetically 
thought  to  give  out  rather  a  melancholy  sound : — 

"  The  pines  of  Moenalus  were  heard  to  mourn. 
And  sounds  of  woe  along  the  grove  were  borne," 


EVERGREEN    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  283 

says  Virgil,  speaking  of  the  European  Pine.  But  the 
nnurmur  of  the  slight  breeze  among  the  foliage  of  the 
White  Pine  gives  out  a  remarkably  soothing  and  agreeable 
sound,  which  agrees  better  with  the  description  of  Leigh 
Hunt: 

"  And  then  there  fled  by  me  a  rush  of  air 
That  stirr'd  up  all  the  other  foliage  there, 
Filling  the  solitude  with  panting  tongues, 
At  which  the  Pines  woke  up  into  their  songs. 
Shaking  their  choral  locks." 

Pickering,  one  of  our  own  poets,  thus  characterizes  the 
melody  : 

"  The  overshadowing  pines  alone,  through  which  I  roam. 
Their  verdure  keep,  although  it  darker  looks  ; 
And  hark  !  as  it  comes  sighing  through  the  grove. 
The  exhausted  gale,  a  spirit  there  awakens, 
That  wild  and  melancholy  music  malces." 

This  species — the  White  Pine — seldom  becomes  flattened 
or  rounded  on  the  summit  in  old  age,  like  many  other  sorts, 
but  preserves  its  graceful  and  tapering  form  entire.  From 
its  pleasing  growth  and  color,  we  consider  it  by  far  the 
most  desirable  kind  for  planting  in  the  proximity  of 
buildings,  and  its  growth  for  an  evergreen  is  also  quite 
rapid. 

The  leaves  of  the  White  Pine  are  thickly  disposed  on 
the  branches,  in  little  bundles  or  parcels  of  five.  The 
cones  are  about  five  inches  long :  they  hang,  when  nearly 
ripe,  in  a  pendulous  manner  from  the  branches,  and  open. 
to  shed  their  seeds,  about  the  first  of  October.  The  bark 
on  trees  less  than  twenty  years  old  is  remarkably  smooth, 
but  becomes  cracked  and   rough,  like   that   of  the   othei 


884  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

Pines,  when  they  grow  old,  although  it  never  splits  and 
separates  itself  from  the  trunk  in  scales,  as  in  other  species. 
The  great  forests  of  White  Pine  lie  in  the  northern  parts 
of  the  Union  ;  and  the  geographical  range  of  this  tree  is 
comprised  chiefly  between  New  York  and  the  47th  degree 
of  north  latitude,  it  being  neither  capable  of  resisting  the 
fierce  heat  of  the  south,  nor  the  intense  cold  of  the  extreme 
northern  regions.  In  Maine,  New  Hampshire,  and 
Vermont,  the  White  Pine  abounds  in  various  situations, 
adapting  itself  to  every  variety  of  soil,  from  dry,  gravelly 
upland,  to  swamps  constantly  wet.  Michaux  measured 
two  trunks  near  the  river  Kennebec,  one  of  which  was 
154  feet  long,  and  54  inches  in  diameter ;  the  other  144 
feet  long,  and  44  inches  in  diameter,  at  three  feet  from  the 
ground.  Dr.  Dwight  also  mentions  a  specimen  on  the 
Kattskill  249  feet  long,  and  several  on  the  Unadilla  200 
feet  long,  and  three  in  diameter.*  These,  though  they  are 
remarkable  specimens,  show  the  stately  altitude  which  this 
fine  species  sometimes  attains,  equalling  in  majesty  the 
grandest  specimens  of  the  old  world : 

The  rougher  rinded  Pine, 


The  great  Argoan  ship's  brave  ornament, 
Which,  coveting  with  his  high  top's  extent 
To  make  the  mountains  touch  the  stars  divine. 
Decks  all  the  forest  with  embellishment. 

Spemses. 

The  Yellow  Pine  (P.  milis)  is  a  fine  evergreen,  usually 
reaching  a  stature  of  50  or  60  feet,  with  a  nearly  uniform 
diameter  of  about  18  inches  for  two-thirds  of  its  lensfth. 
The  branches  generally  take  a  handsome  conical  shape,  and 
the  whole  head  considerably  resembles  that  of  the  spruce, 

»  Dwight's  Travels,  Vol.  iv.  p.  21—26. 


EVERGREEN    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  285 

whence  it  is  sometimes  called  the  Spruce  Pine.  The  term 
Yellow  Pine  arises  from  the  color  of  the  wood  as  contrasted 
with  that  of  the  foregoing  sort,  which  is  white.  The  leaves 
of  this  species  are  long  and  flexible,  arranged  in  pairs  upon 
the  branches,  and  have  a  fine  dark  green  color.  The  cones 
are  very  small,  scarcely  measuring  an  inch  and  a  half  in 
length,  and  are  clothed  on  the  exterior  with  short  spines. 
The  growth  is  quite  slow. 

The  Yellow  Pine  is  rarely  found  above  Albany  to  the 
northward,  but  it  extends  as  far  south  as  the  Floridas.  It 
grows  in  the  greatest  abundance  in  New  Jersey,  Maryland, 
and  Virginia,  and  sometimes  measures  five  or  six  feet  in 
circumference.  In  plantations,  it  has  the  valuable  property 
to  recommend  it,  of  growing  on  the  very  poorest  lands. 

The  Pitch  Pine  (P.  rigida)  is  a  very  distinct  sort, 
common  in  the  whole  of  the  United  States  east  of  the 
AUeghanies.  It  is  very  stiff  and  formal  in  its  growth  when 
young,  but  as  it  approaches  maturity,  it  becomes  one  of  the 
most  picturesque  trees  of  the  genus.  Tlie  branches, 
which  shoot  out  horizontally,  bend  downwards  at  the 
extremities,  and  the  top  of  the  tree,  when  old,  takes  a 
flattened  shape.  The  whole  air  and  expression  of  the  tree 
is  wild  and  romantic,  and  is  harmonious  with  portions  of 
scenery  where  these  characters  predominate.  The  leaves 
are  collected  in  threes,  and  the  color  of  the  foliage  is  a  dark 
green.  The  cones  are  pyramidal,  from  one  to  three  inches 
long,  and  armed  with  short  spines. 

The  bark  of  this  kind  of  Pine  is  remarkably  rough, 
black,  and  furrowed,  even  upon  young  trees  ;  and  the  wood 
is  filled  with  resinous  sap,  from  which  pitch  and  tar  are 
copiously  supplied.  The  trees  grow  in  various  parts  of 
the  country,  both  on  the  most  meagre  soils  and  in  moist 


286  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

swamps,  with  almost  equal  facility.  In  the  latter  situations 
they  are,  however,  comparatively  destitute  of  resin,  but  the 
stems  often  rise  to  80  feet  in  elevation. 

The  foregoing  are  the  finest  and  most  important  species 
of  the  north.  The  Red  Pine  (Pinus  rubra)  and  the  Grey 
Pine  are  species  of  small  or  secondary  size,  chiefly  indige- 
nous to  British  America.  The  Jersey  Pine  (P.  inops)  is  a 
dwarfish  species,  often  called  the  Scrub  Pine,  which  seldom 
grows  more  than  25  feet  high. 

There  are  some  splendid  species  that  are  confined  to 
the  southern  states,  where  they  grow  in  great  luxuriance. 
Among  the  most  interesting  of  these  is  the  Long-leaved 
Pine  (P.  Australis),  a  tree  of  70  feet  elevation,  with  superb 
wandlike  foliage,  borne  in  threes,  often  nearly  a  foot  in 
length.  The  cones  are  also  seven  or  eight  inches  long, 
containing  a  kernel  or  seed  of  agreeable  flavor.  As  this 
tree  grows  as  far  north  as  Norfolk  in  Virginia,  we  are 
strongly  inclined  to  believe  that  it  might  be  naturalized  in 
the  climate  of  the  middle  states,  and  think  it  would  become 
one  of  the  most  valuable  additions  to  our  catalogue  of  ever- 
green trees.  The  Loblolly  Pine  (P.  ToEcla)  of  Virginia 
has  also  fine  foliage,  six  inches  or  more  in  length,  and 
grows  to  80  feet  in  height.  Besides  these  already  named, 
the  southern  states  produce  the  Pond  Pine  (P  Serotina), 
which  resembles  considerably  the  Pitch  Pine,  with,  how- 
ever, longer  leaves,  and  the  Table  Mountain  Pine  (P.  Pun- 
gens),  which  grows  40  or  50  feet  high,  and  is  found  exclu- 
sively upon  that  part  of  the  Alleghany  range. 

We  must  not  forget  in  this  enumeration  of  the  Pines  of 
North  America,  the  magnificent  species  of  California  and 
the  North-West  coast.  The  most  splendid  of  these  was 
discovered  in  Northern  California,  and  named  the  Pinua 


EVERGREEN     ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  287 

hanibertiana,  in  honor  of  that  distinguished  botanist,  A.  B. 
Lambert,  Esq.,  of  London,  the  author  of  a  superb  work  on 
this  genus  of  trees.  It  is  undoubtedly  one  of  the  finest 
evergreens  in  the  world,  averaging  from  100  to  200  feet  in 
height.  Its  discoverer,  Mr.  Douglass,  the  indefatigable 
collector  of  the  Horticultural  Society  of  London,  measured 
one  of  these  trees  that  had  blown  down,  which  was  two 
hundred  and  fifteen  feet  in  length,  and  fifty-seven  feet  nine 
inches  in  circumference,  at  three  feet  from  the  root ;  while 
at  one  hundred  and  thirty-four  feet  from  the  root,  it  was 
seventeen  feet  five  inches  in  girth.  This,  it  is  stated,  is  by 
no  means  the  maximum  height  of  the  species.  The  cones 
of  the  Lambert  Pine  measure  sixteen  inches  in  length  ;  and 
the  seeds  are  eaten  by  the  natives  of  those  regions,  either 
roasted  or  made  into  cakes,  after  being  pounded.  The  other 
species  found  by  Mr.  Douglass  grow  naturally  in  the 
mountain  valleys  of  the  western  coast,  and  several  of  them, 
as  the  Pinus  grandis  and  nohilis,  are  almost  as  lofty  as 
the  foregoing  sort ;  while  Pinus  monticola  and  P.  Sabi- 
niana  are  highly  beautiful  in  their  forms  and  elegant  in 
foliage.  The  seeds  of  nearly  all  these  sorts  were  first  sent 
to  the  garden  of  the  London  Horticultural  Society,  where 
many  of  the  young  trees  are  now  growing ;  and  we  hope 
that  they  will  soon  be  introduced  into  our  plantations, 
which  they  are  so  admirably  calculated,  by  their  elegant 
foliage  and  stupendous  magnitude,  to  adorn. 

The  European  Pines  next  deserve  our  attention.  The 
most  common  species  in  the  north  of  Europe  is  the  Scotch 
Pine  (P.  syhestris),  a  dark,  tall,  evergreen  tree,  with  bluish 
foliage,  of  80  feet  in  height,  which  furnishes  most  of  the 
deal  timber  of  Europe.  It  is  one  of  the  most  rapid  of  all 
the  Pines  in  its  growth,  even  on  poor  soils,  and  is  therefore 


288  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

valuable  in  new  places.  The  Stone  Pine  (P.  pinea)  is  a 
native  of  the  South  of  Europe,  where  it  is  decidedly  the 
most  picturesque  evergreen  tree  of  that  continent.  It 
belongs  peculiarly  to  Italy,  and  its  "  vast  canopy,  supported 
on  a  naked  column  of  great  height,  forms  one  of  the  chief 
and  peculiar  beauties  in  Italian  scenery,  and  in  the  living 
landscapes  of  Claude."  We  regret  that  it  is  too  tender  to 
bear  our  winters,  but  its  place  may  in  a  great  measure  be 
supplied  by  the  Pinaster  or  Cluster  Pine  {P.  pinaster), 
which  is  quite  hardy,  and  succeeds  well  in  the  United 
States.  This  has  much  of  the  same  picturesque  expression, 
depressed  or  rounded  head,  and  tall  columnar  stem,  which 
mark  the  Stone  Pine  ;  while  its  thickly  massed  foliage, 
clustering  cones,  and  rough  bark,  render  it  distinct  and 
strikingly  interesting. 

The  Corsican  Pine  (P.  larica)  is  a  handsome,  regular 
shaped,  pyramidal  tree,  with  the  branches  disposed  in  tiers 
like  those  of  the  White  Pine.  It  grows  to  a  large  size,  and 
is  valued  for  its  extremely  dark  green  foliage,  thickly  spread 
upon  the  branches.  It  is  also  one  of  the  most  rapid  growers 
among  the  foreign  sorts,  and  has  been  found  to  grow 
remarkably  well  upon  the  barren  chalk  downs  of  England. 
Pinus  cemhra  is  a  very  slow  growing,  though  valuable 
kind,  indigenous  to  Switzerland,  and  hardy  here. 

These  are  the  principal  European  species  that  deserve 
notice  here  for  their  ornamental  qualities.  Some  splendid 
additions  have  been  made  to  this  genus,  by  the  discovery 
of  new  species  on  the  Himalaya  mountains  of  Asia ;  and 
from  the  great  elevation  at  which  they  are  found  growing 
wild,  we  have  reason  to  hope  that  they  will  become  natu- 
ralized in  our  climate. 

We  must  not  leave  this  extensive  family  of  trees  without 


EVERGREEN    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  280 

adverting  to  their  numerous  and  important  uses.  In  the 
United  States,  full  four-fifths  of  all  the  houses  built  are  con- 
structed of  the  White  and  Yellovi^  Pine,  chiefly  of  the  former. 
Soft,  easily  worked,  light  and  fine  in  texture,  it  is  almost 
universally  employed  in  carpentry,  and  for  all  the  purposes 
of  civil  architecture ;  w^hile  the  tall  stately  trunks  furnish 
masts  and  spars,  not  only  for  our  own  vessels,  but  many  of 
those  of  England.  A  great  commerce  is  therefore  carried 
on  in  the  timber  of  this  tree,  and  vast  quantities  of  the 
boards,  etc.,  are  annually  exported  to  Europe.  The  Yellow 
and  Pitch  Pine  furnish  much  of  the  enormous  supplies  of 
fuel  consumed  by  the  great  number  of  steamboats  employed 
in  navigating  our  numerous  inland  rivers.  The  Long- 
leaved  Pine  is  the  great  timber  tree  of  the  southern  states ; 
and  when  we  take  into  account  all  its  various  products,  we 
must  admit  it  to  be  the  most  valuable  tree  of  the  whole 
family.  The  consumption  of  the  wood  of  this  tree  in  build- 
ing, in  the  southern  states,  is  immense  ;  and  its  sap  furnishes 
nearly  all  the  turpentine,  tar,  pitch,  and  rosin,  used  in  this 
country,  or  exported  to  Europe.  The  turpentine  flows  from 
large  incisions  made  in  the  trunk  (into  boxes  fastened  to 
the  side  of  the  trees  for  that  purpose)  during  the  whole  of 
the  spring  and  summer.  Spirit  of  turpentine  is  obtained 
from  this  by  distillation.  Tar  is  procured  by  burning  the 
dead  wood  in  kilns,  when  it  flows  out  in  a  current  from  a 
conduit  made  in  the  bottom.  Pitch  is  prepared  by  boiling 
tar  until  it  is  about  one  half  diminished  in  bulk ;  and  rosin 
is  the  residuum  of  the  distillation  when  spirit  of  turpentine 
is  made.  The  Carolinas  produce  all  these  in  the  greatest 
abundance,  and  so  long  ago  as  1807,  the  exportation  of 
them  to  England  alone  amounted  to  nearly  $800,000  in 

that  single  year. 

19 


290  LANDSCAIE  GARDENING. 

The   Fir  Trees.     Abies. 
Nat.  Ord.     Coniferae.  Lin.  Syst.     Moncec'a,  Monadelphia. 

The  Fir  trees  differ  from  the  Pines,  to  which  they  are 
nearly  related,  in  having  much  shorter  leaves,  which  are 
placed  singly  upon  the  branches,  instead  of  being  collected 
in  little  bundles  or  parcels  of  two,  three,  or  five,  as  is  the 
case  in  all  Pines.  They  generally  grow  in  a  more  conical 
manner  than  the  latter,  and  in  ornamental  plantations  owe 
their  beauty  in  most  cases  more  to  their  symmetrical 
regularity  of  growth  than  to  picturesque  expression. 

The  Balsam,  or  Balm  of  Gilead  Fir  (A.  balsamea), 
sometimes  also  called  the  American  Silver  Fir,  is  one  of 
the  most  ornamental  of  our  native  evergreens.  It  is  found 
most  abundantly  in  Maine  and  Nova  Scotia,  but  is 
scattered  more  or  less  on  the  mountain  tops,  and  in  cold 
swamps,  through  various  other  parts  of  the  Union.  At 
Pine  Orchard,  near  the  Catskill  Mountain-house,  it 
flourishes  well,  though  never  seen  below  the  elevation  of 
1,800  feet.  When  standing  singly,  it  forms  a  perfect 
pyramid  of  fine  dark  green  foliage,  30  or  40  feet  high, 
regularly  clothed  from  the  bottom  to  the  top.  The  leaves, 
about  half  or  three-fourths  of  an  inch  long,  are  silvery 
white  on  the  under  surface,  though  dark  green  above ;  and 
are  inserted  both  on  the  sides  and  tops  of  the  branches.  It 
is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  evergreens  for  planting  in 
trrounds  near  the  house,  and  is  perhaps  more  cultivated  for 
that  purpose  than  any  other  in  the  Union.  The  cones, 
which  are  four  or  five  inches  long,  like  those  of  the 
European  Silver  Fir  point  upwards.  However  small  the 
plants  of  this  Fir  may  be,  they  are  still  interesting,  as  they 


EVERGREEN    ORNAMENTAL    TKEES.  291 

display  the  same  symmetiy  as  full  grown  trees.  The  deep 
green  color  of  the  verdure  of  the  Balm  of  Gilead  Fir  is 
retained  unchanged  in  all  its  beauty  through  the  severest 
winters,  which  causes  it  to  contrast  agreeably  with  the 
paler  tints  of  the  Spruces.  On  the  trunks  of  trees  of  this 
species  are  found  small  vesicles  or  blisters,  filled  with  a 
liquid  resin,  which  is  extracted  and  sold  under  the  name 
of  Balm  of  Gilead,*  for  its  medicinal  virtues. 

The  European  Silver  Fir  (A.picea)  strongly  resembles, 
when  young,  the  Balsam  Fir.  But  its  leaves  are  longer 
and  coarser,  and  the  cones  are  much  larger,  while  it  also 
attains  twice  or  three  times  the  size  of  the  latter.  In  the 
forests  of  Germany  it  sometimes  rises  over  100  feet  ;  and 
it  always  becomes  a  large  tree  in  a  favorable  soil.  It 
grows  slowly  during  the  first  twenty  years,  but  afterwards 
advances  with  much  more  rapidity.  It  thrives  well,  and 
is  quite  hardy  in  this  country. 

The  Norway  Spruce  Fir  (A.  communis^)  is  by  far  the 
handsomest  of  that  division  of  the  Firs  called  the  Spruces. 
It  generally  rises  with  a  perfectly  straight  trunk  to  the 
height  of  from  80  to  150  feet.  It  is  a  native,  as  its  name 
denotes,  of  the  colder  parts  of  Europe,  and  consequently 
grows  well  in  the  northern  states.  The  branches  hang 
down  with  a  fine  graceful  curve  or  sweep  ;  and  although 
the  leaves  are  much  paler  than  those  of  the  foregoing 
kinds,  yet  the  thick  fringe-like  tufts  of  foliage  which  clothe 
the  branches,  give  the  whole  tree  a  rich,  dark  appearance. 
The   large  cones,  too,  always  nearly  six  inches  long,  are 

*  The  tnie  Balm  ot  Gilead  is  an  Asiatic  herb,  Amyris  gileadensi*. 
t  Abies  excelsa. 


292  LANDSCAPE    GARDEN  NG. 

beautifully  pendent,  and  greatly  increase  the  beauty  of  an 
old  tree  of  this  kind. 

The  Norway  Spruce  is  the  great  tree  of  the  Alps ;  and 
as  a  park  tree,  to  stand  alone,  we  scarcely  know  a  more 
beautiful  one.  It  then  generally  branches  not  quite  down 
to  the  ground  ;  and  its  fine,  sweeping,  feathery  branches 
hang  down  in  the  most  graceful  and  pleasing  manner. 
There  are  some  superb  specimens  of  this  species  in  various 
gardens  of  the  middle  states,  80  or  100  feet  high. 

The  Black,  or  Double  Spruce  {A.  nigra),  sometimes  also 
called  the  Red  Spruce,  is  very  common  in  the  north ;  and, 
according  to  Michaux,  forms  a  third  part  of  the  forests  of 
Vermont,  Mame,  New  Hampshire,  as  well  as  New  Bruns- 
wick and  Lower  Canada.  The  leaves  are  quite  short  and 
stiff,  and  clothe  the  young  branches  around  the  whole 
surface  ;  and  the  whole  tree,  where  it  much  abounds,  has 
rather  a  gloomy  aspect.  In  the  favorable  humid  black  soils 
of  those  countries,  the  Black  Spruce  grows  70  feet  high, 
forming  a  fine  tall  pyramid  of  verdure.  But  it  is  rarely 
found  in  abundance  further  south,  except  in  swamps,  where 
its  growth  is  much  less  strong  and  vigorous.  Mingled 
with  other  evergreens,  it  adds  to  the  variety,  and  the 
peculiar  coloring  of  its  foliage  gives  value  to  the  livelier 
tints  of  other  species  of  Pine  and  Fir. 

The  White  or  Single  Spruce  {A.  alba)  is  a  smaller  and 
less  common  tree  than  the  foregoing,  though  it  is  often 
found  in  the  same  situations.  The  leaves  are  more  thinly 
arranged  on  the  young  shoots,  and  they  are  longer  and 
project  more  from  the  branches.  The  color,  however,  is  a 
distinguishing  characteristic  between  the  two  sorts  ;  for 
while  in  the  Black  Spruce  it  is  very  dark,  in  this  species  it 


EVERGREEN    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  293 

h  of  a  light  bluish  green  tint.     The  cones  are  also  much 
larger  on  the  White  Spruce  tree. 

The  Hemlock  Spruce,  or,  as  it  is  more  commonly  called, 
the  Hemlock  (A.  canadensis),  is  one  of  the  finest  and  most 
distinct  of  this  tribe  of  trees.  It  is  most  abundantly 
multiplied  in  the  extreme  northern  portions  of  the  Union  ; 
and  abounds  more  or  less,  in  scattered  groups  and  thickets, 
throughout  all  the  middle  states,  while  at  the  south  it  is 
confined  chiefly  to  the  mountains. 

It  prefers  a  soil,  which,  though  slightly  moist,  is  less  humia 
than  that  where  the  Black  Spruce  succeeds  best ;  and  it 
thrives  well  in  the  deep  cool  shades  of  mountain  valleys. 
In  the  Highlands  of  the  Hudson  it  grows  in  great  luxuri- 
ance ;  and  in  one  locality,  the  sides  of  a  valley  near  Crow's 
nest,  the  surface  is  covered  with  the  most  superb  growths 
of  this  tree,  reaching  up  from  the  water's  edge  to  the  very 
summit  of  the  hill,  1,400  feet  high,  like  a  rich  and  shadowy 
mantle,  sprinkled  here  and  there  only  with  the  lighter  and 
more  delicate  foliage  of  deciduous  trees. 

The  average  height  of  the  Hemlock  in  good  soils  is  about 
70  or  80  feet ;  and  when  standing  alone,  or  in  very  small 
groups,  it  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  coniferous  trees.  The 
leaves  are  disposed  in  two  rovv^s  on  each  side  of  the  branches, 
and  considerably  resemble  those  of  the  Yew,  though  looser 
in  texture,  and  livelier  in  color.  The  foliage,  when  the 
tree  has  grown  to  some  height,  hangs  from  the  branches  in 
loose  pendulous  tufts,  which  give  it  a  peculiarly  graceful 
appearance.  When  young,  the  form  of  the  head  is 
regularly  pyramidal ;  but  when  the  tree  attains  more  age, 
t  often  assumes   very   irregular  and  picturesque  forms. 


294  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

Sometimes  it  grows  up  in  a  thick,  dense,  dark  mass  of 
foliage,  only  varied  by  the  pendulous  branches,  which 
project  beyond  the  grand  mass  of  the  tree  ;  at  others  it 
forms  a  loose,  airy,  and  graceful  top,  permeable  to  the 
slightest  breeze,  and  waving  its  loose  tufts  of  leaves  to 
every  passing  breath  of  air.  In  almost  all  cases,  it  is 
extremely  ornamental,  and  we  regret  that  it  is  not  more 
generally  employed  in  decorating  the  grounds  of  our 
residences.  It  should  be  transplanted  (like  all  of  this  class 
of  trees)  quite  early  in  the  spring,  the  roots  being  preserved 
as  nearly  entire  as  possible,  and  not  suffered  to  become  the 
least  dried,  before  they  are  replaced  in  the  soil. 

The  uses  of  the  Fir  tree  are  important.  The  Norway 
Spruce  Fir  furnishes  the  white  deal  timber  so  extensively 
employed  in  Europe  for  all  the  various  purposes  of 
building ;  and  its  tall,  tapering  stems  afford  fine  masts  for 
vessels.  The  Black  Spruce  timber  is  also  highly  valuable, 
and  is  thought  by  many  persons  to  surpass  in  excellence 
that  of  the  Norway  Spruce.  The  young  shoots  also  enter 
into  the  composition  of  the  celebrated  Spruce  beer  of  this 
country,  a  delightful  and  very  healthful  beverage.  And 
the  Hemlock  not  only  furnishes  a  vast  quantity  of  the 
joists  used  in  building  frame-houses,  but  supplies  the 
tanners  with  an  abundance  of  bark,  which,  when  mixed 
with  that  of  the  oak,  is  highly  esteemed  in  the  preparation 
of  leather. 

We  regret  that  the  fine  evergreen  trees  both  of  this 
country  and  Europe,  which  compose  the  Pine  and  Fir 
tribes,  have  not  hitherto  received  more  of  the  attention 
of  planters.     It  is  inexpressible  how  much  they  add  to  the 


EVEEGREEN    ORNAMENTAL    TKEES.  liUS 

beauty  of  a  country  residence  in  winter.  At  that  season, 
when,  during  three  or  four  months  the  landscape  is 
bleak  and  covered  with  snow,  these  noble  trees,  properly 
intermingled  with  the  groups  in  view  from  the  window, 
or  those  surrounding  the  house,  give  an  appearance  of 
verdure  and  life  to  the  scene  which  cheats  winter  of  half 
its  dreariness.  In  exposed  quarters,  also,  and  in  all  windy 
and  bleak  situations,  groups  of  evergreens  form  the  most 
effectual  shelter  at  all  seasons  of  the  year,  while  many 
of  them  have  the  great  additional  recommendation  of 
growing  upon  the  most  meagre  soils. 

In  fine  country  residences  abroad,  it  is  becoming 
customary  to  select  some  extensive  and  suitable  locality, 
where  all  the  species  of  Pines  and  Firs  are  collected 
together,  and  allowed  to  develope  themselves  in  their 
full  beauty  of  proportion.  Such  a  spot  is  called  a  Pinetum  ; 
and  the  effect  of  all  the  different  species  growing  in  the 
same  assembla2;e,  and  contrastino;  their  various  forms, 
heights,  and  peculiarities,  cannot  but  be  strikingly  ele- 
gant. One  of  the  largest  and  oldest  collections  of  this 
kind  is  the  Pinetum  of  Lord  Grenville,  at  Dropmore,  near 
Windsor,  England.  This  contains  nearly  100  kinds, 
comprising  all  the  sorts  known  to  English  botanists,  that 
will  endure  the  open  air  of  their  mild  climate.  The  great 
advantage  of  these  Pinetums  is,  that  many  of  the  moi'e 
delicate  species,  which  if  exposed  singly  would  perish, 
thrive  well,  and  become  quite  naturalized  under  the  shelter 
of  the  more  hardy  and  vigorous  sorts. 


296  LANDSCAPE    GAIlDENING. 

The  Cedar  of  Lebanon  Tree.     Cedrus. 
Nat.  Ord.     Conifers.  Lin.  Syst.     Monoecia,  Monadelphia. 

The  Cedar  of  Lebanon  is  universally  admitted  by 
European  authors  to  be  the  noblest  evergreen  tree  of 
the  old  world.  Its  native  sites  are  the  elevated  valleys 
and  ridges  of  Mount  Lebanon  and  the  neighboring  heights 
of  the  lofty  groups  of  Asia  Minor.  There  it  once  covered 
immense  forests,  but  it  is  supposed  these  have  never 
recovered  from  the  inroads  made  upon  them  by  the  forty 
score  thousand  hewers  employed  by  Solomon  to  procure 
the  timber  for  the  erection  of  the  Temple.  Modern 
travellers  speak  of  them  as  greatly  diminished  in  number, 
though  there  are  still  specimens  measuring  thirty-six  feet 
in  circumference.  Mount  Lebanon  is  inhabited  by  nu- 
merous Maronite  Christians,  who  hold  annually  a 
celebration  of  the  Transfiguration  under  the  shade  of 
the  existing  trees,  which  they  call  the  "  Feast  of  Cedars.'^ 

The  Cedar  of  Lebanon  is  nearly  related  to  the  Larch, 
having  its  leaves  collected  in  parcels  like  that  tree,  but 
differs  widely  in  the  circumstance  of  its  foliage  being 
evergreen.  It  is  remarkable  for  the  wide  extension  of  its 
branches,  and  the  immense  surface  covered  by  its 
overshadowing  canopy  of  foliage.  In  the  sacred  writings 
it  is  often  alluded  to  as  an  emblem  of  great  strength,  beauty, 
and  duration.  "  Behold  the  Assyrian  was  a  Cedar  in 
Lebanon,  with  fair  branches,  and  with  a  shadowing  shroud, 
and  of  an  high  stature  ;  and  his  top  was  among  the  thick 
boughs.  His  boughs  were  multiplied,  and  his  branches 
became  long.     The  fir  trees  were  not  like  his  boughs,  nor 


1 


EVERGREEN    ORNAMENTAL    TREES. 


297 


the  chestnut  trees  like  his  branches,  nor  any  tree  in  the 
garden  of  God  like  unto  him  in  beauty."* 

In  England  the  Cedar  of  Lebanon  appears  to  have 
become  quite  naturaUzed.  There  it  is  considered  by  far 
the  most  ornamental  of  all  the  Pine  tribe, — possessing, 
when  full  grown,  an  air  of  dignity  and  grandeur  beyond 
any  other  tree.  To  attain  the  fullest  beauty  of  develop- 
ment, it  should  always  stand  alone,  so  that  its  far-spreading 
horizontal  branches  can  have  full  room  to  stretch  out  and 
expand  themselves  on  every  side.  Loudon,  in  his 
Arboretum,  gives  a  representation  of  a  superb  specimen 
now  growing  at  Sion  House,  the  seat  of  the  Duke  of 
Northumberland,  which  is  72  feet  high,  24  in  circum- 
ference, and  covers  an  area,  with  its  huge  depending 
branches,  of  117  feet.  There  are  many  other  Cedars  in 
England  almost  equal  to  this  in  grandeur.  Sir  T.  D. 
Lauder  gives  an  account  of  one  at  Whitton,  which  blew 
down  in  1779 :  it  then  measured  70  feet  in  height,  16  feet 
in  circumference,  and  covered  an  area  of  100  feet  in 
diameter.  To  show  the  rapidity  of  the  growth  of  this  tree, 
he  quotes  three  Cedars  of  Lebanon,  which  were  planted  at 
Hopetoun  House,  Scotland,  in  the  year  1748.  The  mea- 
surement is  the  circumference  of  the  trunks,  and  shows 
the  rapid  increase  after  they  have  attained  a  large  size. 


1801. 

1820. 

1825. 

1833. 

First  Cedar, 
Second  do. 
Third  do. 

ft.  in. 

10  0 
8  6 
7  10 

ft.   in. 

13  li 

10  9i 

9  9i 

ft.   in. 
14   0 
11  4 
10  8 

ft.   in. 
15   1 
12  3 
11  6 

Increase  in 
32  years. 


A  Chestnut  measured  at  the  sanae  periods,  only  increased     2         7 


Ezekiel  xxxi. 


298  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

From  the  above  table,  it  will  be  seen  how  congenial  even 
the  cold  climate  of  Scotland  is  to  the  growth  of  this  tree. 
Indeed  in  its  native  soils,  the  tops  of  the  surrounding  hilh 
are  almost  perpetually  covered  with  snow,  and  it  is,  there- 
fore, one  of  the  very  hardiest  of  the  evergreens  of  the  old 
world.  There  is  no  reason  why  it  should  not  succeed 
admirably  in  many  parts  of  the  United  States  ;  and  when 
we  consider  its  great  size,  fine  dark  green  foliage,  and  wide 
spreading  limbs  which 

" Overarching,  frame 


Most  solemn  domes  within," 

Shelley. 

as  well  as  the  many  interesting  associations  connected 
with  it,  we  cannot  but  think  it  better  worth  our  early 
attention,  and  extensive  introduction,  than  almost  any 
other  foreign  tree.  Evergreens  are  comparatively  difficult 
to  import,  and  as  we  have  made  the  experiment  of 
importing  Cedars  of  Lebanon  from  the  English  nurseries 
with  but  indifferent  success,  we  would  advise  that  persons 
attempting  its  cultivation  should  procure  the  cones 
containing  the  seeds  from  England,  when  they  may  be 
reared  directly  in  our  own  soil,  which  will  of  course  be  an 
additional  advantage  to  the  future  growth  of  the  tree.* 

The  situations  found  to  be  most  favorable  to  this  Cedar, 
in  the  parks  and  gardens  of  Europe,  are  sandy  or  gravelly 
soils,  either  with  a  moist  subsoil  underneath,  or  in  the 
neighborhood  of  springs,  or  bodies  of  water.  In  such  places 
it  is  found  to  advance  with  a  rapidity  equal  to  the  Larch. 

*  The  finest  Cedar  of  Lebanon  in  the  Union,  is  growing  in  the  grounds  ..f 
T.  Ash,  Esq.,  of  Westchester  Co.,  N.  Y.,  being  50  feet  high  and  of 
corresponding  breadth.  It  stands  near  a  Purple-leaved  Beech,  equally  large 
and  beautiful. 


]■;VERGREE^f    ORNAMENTAL    TREKS  299 

one  of  the  fastest  growing  timber  trees,  as  we  have  ah'cadj; 
noticed. 

The  Deodara,  or  Indian  Cedar  (Cedrus  Deodara),  is  a 
magnificent  species  of  this  tree,  recently  introduced  from 
the  high  mountains  of  Nepal  and  Indo-Tartary.  It  stands 
the  climate  of  Scotland,  and  appears  likely  to  succeed  here 
wherever  the  Cedar  of  Lebanon  will  flourish.  In  its  native 
country  it  is  described  as  being  a  lofty  and  majestic  tree, 
frequently  attaining  the  height  of  150  feet,  with  a  trunk  30 
feet  in  circumference.  The  leaves  are  larger  than  those 
of  the  Cedar  of  Lebanon,  of  a  deeper  bluish  green,  covered 
with  a  silvery  bloom  ;  the  cones,  borne  in  pairs,  are  of  a 
reddish  brown  color,  and  are  both  longer  and  broader  than 
those  of  the  latter  species.  In  some  parts  of  Upper  India 
it  is  considered  a  sacred  tree  (^Deodara — tree  of  God),  and 
is  only  used  to  burn  as  incense  in  days  of  high  ceremony ; 
but  in  others  it  is  held  in  the  highest  esteem  as  a  timber 
tree,  having  all  the  good  qualities  of  the  Cedar  of  Lebanon 
— its  great  durability  being  attested  by  its  sound  state  in 
the  roofs  of  temples  of  that  country,  which  cannot  have 
been  built  less  than  200  years. 

We  have  but  just  introduced  the  Deodara  into  the  United 
States,  and  can  therefore  say  little  of  its  growth  or  beauty 
here,  though  we  have  little  doubt  that  it  will  prove  one  of 
the  noblest  evergreen  trees  for  our  pleasure  grounds.  Lou- 
don says,  "  the  specimens  in  England  are  yet  small ;  but 
the  feathery  lightness  of  its  spreading  branches,  and  the 
beautiful  glaucous  hue  of  its  leaves,  render  it,  even  when 
young,  one  of  the  most  ornamental  of  the  coniferous  trees ; 
and  all  the  travellers  who  have  seen  it  full  grown,  agree 
that  it  unites  an  extraordinary  degree  of  majesty  and  gran- 
deur with  its  beauty.     The  tree  thrives  in  every  part  of 


800  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

Great  Britain  where  it  has  been  tried,  even  as  far  north  as 
Aberdeen,  where,  as  in  many  other  places,  it  is  found 
hardier  than  the  Cedar  of  Lebanon.  It  is  readily  propa- 
gated by  seeds,  which  preserve  their  vitality  when  imported 
in  the  cones.  It  also  grows  freely  by  cuttings,  which  appeal 
to  make  as  handsome  free-growing  plants  as  those  raised 
from  seed."  The  soil  and  culture  for  this  tree  are  pre- 
cisely those  for  the  Cedar  of  Lebanon. 


The   Red  Cedar  Tree.     Juniperus. 

Nat.  Ord.    Coniferae.  Lin.  Syst.    Dioecia,  Monadelphia. 

The  Red  Cedar  is  a  very  common  tree,  indigenous  to 
this  country,  and  growing  in  considerable  abundance  from 
Maine  to  Florida ;  but  thriving  with  the  greatest  luxuriance 
in  the  sea-board  states.  When  fully  grown,  the  Red  Cedar 
is  about  40  feet  in  height,  and  little  more  than  a  foot  in 
diameter.  The  leaves  are  very  small,  composed  of  minute 
scales,  and  lie  pretty  close  to  the  branches.  Small  blut 
berries,  borne  thickly  upon  the  branches  of  the  female  tree? 
in  autumn  and  winter,  contain  the  seeds.  These  are 
covered  with  a  whitish  exudation,  and  are  sometimes  used, 
like  those  of  the  foreign  juniper,  in  the  manufacture  of  gin. 

The  Red  Cedar  has  less  to  recommend  it  to  the  eye  than 
most  of  the  evergreens  which  we  have  already  described. 
The  color  of  the  foliage  is  dull  and  dingy  at  many  seasons, 
and  the  form  of  the  young  tree  is  too  compactly  conical  to 
please  generally.  When  old,  however,  we  have  seen  it 
throw  off  this  formality,  and  become  an  interesting,  and 
'ndeed  a  picturesque  tree.    Then  its  branches  shooting  out 


EVERGREEN    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  JJO) 

in  a  horizontal  direction,  clad  with  looser  and  more  pendent 
foliage,  give  the  whole  tree  quite  another  character.  The 
twisted  stems,  too,  when  they  become  aged,  have  a  singular, 
dried-looking,  whitish  bark,  which  is  quite  unique  and 
peculiar.  There  is  a  very  fine  natural  avenue  of  Red 
Cedars  near  Fishkill  landing,  in  Duchess  Co.,  composed  of 
two  rows  of  noble  trees  35  or  40  feet  high,  which  is  a  very 
agreeable  walk  in  winter  and  early  spring.  This  has  given 
the  name  of  Cedar  Grove  to  the  country  seat  in  question, 
where  the  Red  Cedar  grows  spontaneously  upon  a  slate 
subsoil  with  great  luxuriance.  There  the  trees  are  dis- 
seminated widely  by  the  birds,  which  feed  with  avidity 
upon  the  berries. 

The  Red  Cedar  is  well  known  to  every  person  as  one  of 
our  very  best  timber  trees.  It  takes  its  name  from  the 
reddish  hue  of  the  perfect  wood.  This  has  a  fragrant  odor, 
and  is  not  only  light,  fine-grained,  and  close  in  texture,  but 
extremely  durable.  It  is  therefore  much  employed  (though 
of  late  it  is  becoming  scarcer)  in  conjunction  with  Live 
oak,  which  is  too  heavy  alone,  in  ship-building.  It  is  also 
valued  for  its  great  durability  as  posts  for  fencing;  and  is 
exported  to  Europe,  to  be  used  in  the  manufacture  of  pen- 
cils, and  other  useful  purposes. 


The  Arbor  Vit^  Tree.     Thuja. 
Nat.  Ord.     Coniferae.  Lin.  Syst.     Monoecia,  Monadelphia. 

The  Arbor  Vitee  (Thuja   occidentalis),  sometimes  also 
called  Flat  Cedar,  or  White  Cedar,  is  distinguished  from 


302  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

most  evergreens  by  its  flat  foliage,  composed  of  a  great 
number  of  scales  closely  imbricated,  or  overlaying  each 
other,  which  give  the  whole  a  compressed  appearance. 
The  seeds  are  borne  in  a  small  cone,  usually  not  more  than 
half  an  inch  in  length. 

This  tree  is  extremely  formal  and  regular  in  outline 
in  almost  every  stage  of  growth  ;  generally  assuming  the 
shape  of  an  exact  cone  or  pyramid  of  close  foliage,  of  con- 
siderable extent  at  the  base,  close  to  the  ground,  and  nar- 
rowing upwards  to  a  sharp  point.  So  regular  is  their 
outline  in  many  cases,  when  they  are  growing  upon 
favorable  soils,  that  at  a  short  distance  they  look  as  if  they 
had  been  subjected  to  the  clipping-shears.  The  sameness 
of  its  form  precludes  the  employment  of  this  evergreen  in 
so  extensive  a  manner  as  most  others ;  that  is,  in  inter- 
mingling it  promiscuously  with  other  trees  of  less  artificial 
forms.  But  the  Arbor  Vitee,  from  this  very  regularity,  is 
well  suited  to  support  and  accompany  scenery  when  objects 
of  an  avowedly  artificial  character  predominate,  as  buildings, 
etc.,  where  it  may  be  used  with  a  very  happy  effect.  There 
is  also  no  evergreen  tree  indigenous  or  introduced,  which 
will  make  a  more  effectual,  close,  and  impervious  screen 
than  this  :  and  as  it  thrives  well  in  almost  every  soil,  moist, 
dry,  rich,  or  poor,  we  strongly  recommend  it  whenever 
such  thickets  are  desirable.  We  have  ourselves  tried  the 
experiment  with  a  hedge  of  it  about  200  feet  long,  which 
was  transplanted  about  five  or  six  feet  high  from  the  native 
habitats  of  the  young  trees,  and  wdiich  fully  answers  our 
expectations  respecting  it,  forming  a  perfectly  thick  screen, 
and  an  excellent  shelter  on  the  north  of  a  range  of  buildings 
at  all  seasons  of  the  year,  growing  perfectly  thick  without 
trimming,  from  the  very  ground  upwards. 


EVERGREEN    ORNAMENTAL    TREE^.  303 

The  only  fault  of  this  tree  as  an  evergreen,  is  the 
comparatively  dingy  green  hue  of  its  foliage  in  winter. 
But  to  compensate  for  this,  it  is  remarkably  fresh  looking 
in  its  spring,  summer,  and  autumn  tints,  comparing  well  at 
those  seasons  even  with  the  bright  verdure  of  deciduous 
trees. 

The  Arbor  Vitee  is  very  abundant  in  New  Brunswick, 
Vermont,  and  Maine.  In  New  York,  the  shores  of  the 
Hudson,  at  Hampton  landing,  70  miles  above  the  city  of 
New  York,  are  lined  on  both  sides  with  beautiful  speci 
mens  of  this  tree,  many  of  them  being  perfect  cones  in 
outline  ;  and  it  is  here  much  more  symmetrical  and  perfect 
in  its  growth  than  we  have  seen  it.  Forty  feet  is  about 
the  maximum  altitude  of  the  Arbor  YitcB,  and  the  stem 
rarely  measures  more  than  ten  or  twelve  inches  in 
diameter. 

The  wood  is  very  light,  soft,  and  fine-grained,  but  is 
reputed  to  be  equally  durable  with  the  Red  Cedar.  It 
is  consequently  employed  for  various  purposes  in  build- 
ing and  fencing,  where,  in  the  northern  districts,  it 
grows  in  sufficient  abundance,  and  of  suitable  size. 

The  Chinese  Arbor  Vitse  {T.  orientalis)  is  a  tree  of 
much  smaller  and  more  feeble  growth.  It  cannot, 
therefore,  as  an  ornamental  tree,  be  put  in  competition 
with  our  native  species.  Bnt  it  is  a  beautiful  evergreen 
for  the  garden  and  shrubbery,  where  it  finds  a  more 
suitable  and  sheltered  site,  being  rather  tender  north  of 
New  York. 

The  White  Cedar  {Thuja  spheroida*),  which  belongs 
lo  the  same  genus  as  the  Arbor  Vitae,  is  a  much  loftiei 

•  Cupressus  thuyoides  of  the  old  botanists. 


304  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

tree.,  often  growing  80  feet  high.  It  can  hardly  be 
considered  a  tree  capable  of  being  introduced  into 
cultivated  situations,  as  it  is  found  only  in  thick  swamps 
and  wet  grounds.  The  foliage  considerably  resembles 
that  of  the  common  Arbor  Vitae,  though  rather  narrower 
and  more  delicate  in  texture.  The  cones  are  small  and 
rugged,  and  change  from  green  to  a  blue  or  brown  tint  in 
autumn.     In  the  south  it  is  often  called  the  Juniper. 

The  White  Cedar  furnishes  excellent  shingles,  much 
more  durable  than  those  made  of  either  Pine  or  Cypress  ; 
in  Philadelphia  the  wood  is  much  esteemed  and  greatly 
used  in  cooperage.  "  Charcoal,"  according  to  Michaux, 
"highly  esteemed  in  the  manufacture  of  gunpowder,  is 
made  of  young  stocks,  about  an  inch  and  a  half  in 
diameter,  deprived  of  their  bark ;  and  the  seasoned  wood 
affords  beautiful  lamp-black,  lighter  and  more  intensely 
colored  than  that  obtained  from  the  Pine." 


The  American  Holly  Tree.     Ilex. 

Nat.  Ord.     AquifoliaccBe.  Lin.  Sijst.     Dioecia,  Tetrandria. 

The  European  Holly  is  certainly  one  of  the  evergreen 
glories  of  the  English  gardens.  There  its  deep  green, 
glossy  foliage,  and  bright  coral  berries,  which  hang  on  for 
a  long  time,  are  seen  enlivening  the  pleasure-grounds  and 
shrubberies  throughout  the  whole  of  that  leafless  and 
inactive  period  in  vegetation — winter.  It  is  also,  in  our 
mother  tongue,  inseparably  connected  with  the  delightful 
associations  of  merry  Christmas  gambols  and  feastings, 
when   both    the    churches    and    the    dwelling-houses    are 


EVERGREEN    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  305 

decorated  with  its  boughs.  We  have  much  to  rec^ret, 
therefore,  in  the  severity  of  our  winters,  which  will  not 
permit  the  European  Holly  to  flourish  in  the  middle  or 
eastern  states,  as  a  hardy  tree.  South  of  Philadelphia,  it 
may  become  acclimated ;  but  it  appears  to  suffer  greatly 
further  north. 

A  beautiful  succedaneum,  however,  may,  we  believe,  be 
found  in  the  American  Holly  {Ilex  opaca),  which  indeed 
very  closely  resembles  the  foreign  species  in  almost  every 
particular.  The  leaves  are  waved  or  irregular  in  surface 
and  outline,  though  not  so  much  so  as  those  of  the  latter, 
and  their  color  is  a  much  lighter  shade  of  green.  Like 
those  of  the  foreign  plant,  they  are  armed  on  the  edges 
with  thorny  prickles,  and  the  surfaoe  is  brilliant  and 
pohshed.  The  American  Holly  is  seen  in  the  greatest 
perfection  on  the  eastern  shore  of  Maryland  and  Virginia, 
and  the  lower  part  of  New  Jersey.  There  it  thrives 
best  upon  loose,  dry,  and  gravelly  soils.  Michaux  says 
it  is  also  common  through  all  the  extreme  southern  states, 
and  in  West  Tennessee,  in  which  latter  places  it  abounds 
on  the  margins  of  shady  swamps,  where  the  soil  is  cool 
and  fertile.  In  such  spots  it  often  reaches  forty  feet  in 
height,  and  twelve  or  fifteen  inches  in  diameter. 

Although  the  growth  of  the  Holly  is  slow,  yet  it  is 
always  beautiful ;  and  wt  regret  that  the  American  sort, 
which  may  be  easily  brought  into  cultivation,  is  so  very 
rarely  seen  in  our  gardens  or  grounds.  The  seeds  are 
easily  procured,  and  if  scalded  and  sowed  in  autumn, 
immediately  after  being  gathered,  they  vegetate  freely. 
For  hedges  the  Holly  is  altogether  unrivalled  ;  and  it  was 
also  one  of  the  favorite  plants  for  verdant  sculpture,  in  the 
ancient  style  of  gardening.     Evelyn,  in  the  edition  of  his 

20 


306  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING, 

Sylva,  published  in  London  in  1664,  thus  bursts  out  in 
eloquent  praise  of  it :  "  Above  all  natural  greens  which 
enrich  our  home-born  store,  there  is  none  certainly  to  be 
compared  to  the  Holly  ;  insomuch  that  I  have  often 
wondered  at  our  curiosity  after  foreign  plants  and  expen 
sive  difficulties,  to  the  neglect  of  the  culture  of  this  vulgar 
but  incomparable  tree, — whether  we  will  propagate  it  for 
use  and  defence,  or  for  sight  and  ornament.  Is  there 
under  heaven  a  more  glorious  and  refreshing  object  of  the 
kind,  than  an  impregnable  hedge  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty-five  feet  in  length,  seven  high,  and  five  in  diameter, 
which  I  can  show  in  my  poor  gardens,  at  any  time  of  the 
year,  glittering  with  its  armed  and  varnished  leaves  ?  The 
taller  standards  at  orderly  distances  blushing  with  their 
natural  coral.  It  mocks  the  rudest  assaults  of  the  weather, 
beasts,  or  hedge-breaker  : — ■ 

'  Et  ilium  nemo  impune  lacessit.' " 


The  Yew  Tree.     Taxus. 

Nat.  Ord.     Taxaceae.         Lin.  Syst.     Monoecia,  Monadelphia. 

The  European  Yew  is  a  slow-growing,  evergreen  tree, 
which  often,  when  full  grown,  measures  forty  feet  in  height, 
and  a  third  more  in  the  diameter  of  its  branches.  The 
foliage  is  flat,  linear,  and  is  placed  in  two  rows,  like  that  of 
the  Hemlock  tree,  though  much  darker  in  color.  The 
flowers  are  brown  or  greenish,  and  inconspicuous,  but  they 
are  succeeded  by  beautiful  scarlet  berries,  about  half  or 
three-fourths  of  an  inch  in  diameter,  which  are  open  at 
the  end  where  a  small  nut  or  seed  is  deposited.     These 


EVERGBEEN    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  301 

oerries  have  an  exquisitely  delicate,  waxen  appearance, 
and  contribute  highly  to  the  beauty  of  the  tree. 

The  growth  of  this  tree,  even  in  its  native  soil,  is  by  no 
means  rapid.  In  twenty  years,  says  Loudon,  it  will  attain 
the  height  of  fifteen  or  eighteen  feet,  and  it  will  continue 
growing  for  one  hundred  years ;  after  which  it  becomes 
comparatively  stationary,  but  will  live  many  centuries. 

When  young,  the  Yew  is  rather  compact  and  bushy  in 
its  form  ;  but  as  it  grows  old,  the  foliage  spreads  out  in  fine 
horizontal  masses,  the  outline  of  the  tree  is  irregularly 
varied,  and  the  whole  ultimately  becomes  highly  v-enerable 
and  picturesque.  When  standing  alone,  it  generally  shoots 
out  into  branches  at  some  three  or  four  feet  above  the 
surface  of  the  ground,  and  is  ramified  into  a  great  number 
of  close  branches. 


[Fig.  40.    The  English  Yew.J 


In  England,  it  has  been  customary,  since  the  earliest 
settlement  of  that  island  by  the  Britons,  to  plant  the  Yew 
in  churchyards  ;  and  it  is  therefore  as  decidedly  conse- 
crated to  this  purpose  there,  as  the  Cypress  is  in  the  south 


308  LANDSCAPE    GARDENING. 

of  Europe.  For  the  decoration  of  places  of  burial  it  is 
well  adapted,  from  the  deep  and  perpetual  verdure  of  its 
fohage,  which,  conjointly  with  its  great  longevity,  may  be 
considered  as  emblematical  of  immortality.  The  custom 
still  exists,  in  a  few  places  in  Ireland  and  Wales,  of 
carrying  twigs  of  this  and  other  evergreen  trees  in  fune- 
rals, and  throwing  them  into  the  grave,  with  the  corpse.* 

" Yet  strew 

Upon  my  dismall  grave 

Such  offerings  as  ye  have, 

Forsaken  Cypresse  and  Yewe; 

For  kinder  flowers  can  have  no  birth 

Or  growth  from  such  unhappy  earth." 

Stanly. 

There  is  a  mournful  yet  sweet  and  pensive  pleasure,  in 
thus  adorning  these  last  places  of  repose  with  such 
beautiful,  unfading  memorials  of  grief  They  rob  the 
graveyard  or  cemetery  of  its  horrors,  and  by  their 
perpetual  garlands  of  verdure  and  freshness,  inevitably 
lead  the  mind  from  the  ideas  of  death  which  an  ordinary 
barren  churchyard  alone  inspires,  to  reflections  of  a  purer 
and  loftier  cast;  the  immortality  which  awaits  the  soul 
when  disenthralled  of  clay.  Among  the  old  English  poets, 
we  find  much  of  these  feelings  in  favor  of  decorating  the 
precincts  of  the  grave,  and  surrounding  them  with  what 
may  be  called  the  poetry  of  grief.  Herrick,  one  of  the 
sweetest  of  the  number,  in  some  lines  addressed  to  the 
Cypress  and  Yew,  says  : 

"  Bothe  of  ye  have 
Relation  to  the  grave  ; 
And  where 
The  funeral  trump  sounds,  you  are  there. 

•  Encyclopaedia  of  Plants,  849. 


EVERGREEN    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  309 

I  shall  be  made 
Ere  longe  a  fleeting  shade  ; 

Pray  come. 
And  do  some  honor  to  my  tomb." 

Some  of  the  old  Yews  in  the  churchyards  and  gardens 
of  England  have  attained  a  wonderful  period  of  longevity. 
Gilpin  mentions  one  in  the  churchyard  of  Tisbury  in 
Dorsetshire,  now  standing  and  in  fine  foliage,  though  the 
trunk  is  quite  hollow,  which  measures  thirty-seven  feet  in 
circumference,  and  the  limbs  are  proportionately  large. 
The  tree  is  entered  by  a  rustic  gate  ;  and  seventeen  persons 
lately  breakfasted  in  its  interior.  It  is  said  to  have  been 
planted  many  generations  ago  by  the  Arundel  family.  The 
famous  Yew  at  Arkenwyke  House,  which  Henry  VIII. 
made  his  place  of  meeting  with  Anna  Boleyn  when  she 
was  there,  is  supposed  to  be  upwards  of  a  thousand  years 
old  ;  it  is  forty -nine  feet  high,  twenty-seven  in  circumfer- 
ence, and  the  branches  extend  over  an  area  of  two  hundred 
and  seven  feet.  There  are,  besides  these,  a  great  number 
of  other  celebrated  Yews  in  England,  of  immense  size  and 
age,  which  are  preserved  with  the  greatest  care  and 
veneration. 

It  is  a  common  saying  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  New 
Forest  in  England,  says  Gilpin,  that  "  a  post  of  Yew  will 
outlast  a  post  of  iron.  The  wood  is  extremely  durable, 
and  being  hard  and  very  fine-grained,  as  well  as  beau- 
tifully variegated  with  reddish  or  orange  veins,  it  is 
much  prized  for  inlaying,  veneering,  and  other  similar 
purposes  by  the  cabinet-makers  abroad.  Tables  made  of 
it  are  said  to  be  more  beautiful  than  those  of  mahogany  ; 
and  the  wood  of  the  root  to  vie  in  beauty  with  that  of  the 
Citron. 


SIO  LANDSCAPE    GARDENING. 

It  is  also  remarkably  elastic,  and  is  therefore  much  valued 
for  bows.  In  ancient  times,  when  bows  and  arrows  were 
the  chief  weapons  of  destruction  in  war,  the  bows  made 
of  the  Yew  tree  were  valued  by  the  ancient  Britons  above 
all  others.  According  to  the  Arboretum  Britannicum,  in 
Switzerland,  where  this  tree  was  scarce,  it  was  formerly 
forbidden,  under  heavy  penalties,  to  cut  down  the  Yew  for 
any  other  purpose  than  to  make  bows  of  the  wood.  The 
Swiss  mountaineers  call  it  "  William's  tree,"  in  memory 
of  William  Tell. 

The  Yew,  like  the  Holly,  makes  an  excellent  evergreen 
hedge — close,  dark  green,  and  beautiful  when  clad  in  the 
rich  scarlet  berries.  We  desire,  however,  rather  to  see 
this  tree  naturalized  in  our  gardens  and  lawns  as  an 
evergreen  tree  of  the  first  class,  than  in  any  other  form. 
Judging  from  specimens  which  we  have  growing  in  our 
own  grounds,  we  should  consider  it  quite  hardy  anywhere 
south  of  the  41°  of  latitude.  And  although  it  is  somewhat 
slow  in  its  growth,  yet,  like  many  other  evergreens,  it  is  as 
beautiful  when  a  small  bush  or  a  thrifty  young  tree,  as  it  is 
venerable  and  picturesque  when  ages  or  even  centuries 
have  witnessed  its  never  failing  verdure.  It  appears  to 
grow  most  vigorously  and  thrive  best  on  a  rich  and  heavy 
soil,  and  in  situations  rather  shaded  than  exposed  to  a 
burning  sun. 

There  are  several  beautiful  varieties  of  the  Yew  (Taxus 
haccata)  cultivated  in  the  nurseries;  the  Irish  Yew  (T.  h. 
fastigiata),  remarkable  for  its  dark  green  foliage,  and  very 
handsome,  upright  growth,  and  the  Yellow  berried  Yew 
(T.  h.fructo-jiava),  are  the  most  ornamental. 

The  North  American  Yew  {T.  canadensis)  is  a  low 
1 


EVERGKEEN    ORNAMENTAL    TREES.  Sll 

trailing  shrub,  scarcely  rising  above  the  height  of  four  or 
six  feet,  though  the  branches  extend  to  a  considerable 
distance.  In  foliage,  berries,  etc.,  it  so  strongly  resembles 
the  European  plant,  that  many  botanists  consider  it  only  a 
dwarf  variety.  The  leaves  are  nevertheless  shorter  and 
narrower,  and  the  male  flowers  always  solitary.  It  is 
found  in  shady,  rocky  places,  in  the  Highlands,  and  various 
other  localities  from  Canada  to  Virginia 


312 


LANDSCAPE    GARDENING. 


SECTION  VI. 


VINES    AND    CLIMBING    PLANTS. 


Value  of  thia  kind  of  Vegetation.  Fine  natural  effects.  The  European  Ivy.  The 
Virginia  Creeper.  The  Wild  Grape  Vine.  The  Bittersweet.  The  Trumpet  Creeper. 
The  Pipe  Vine,  and  the  Clematis.  The  Wistarias.  The  Honeysucldes  and  Wood- 
bines. The  Jasmine  and  the  Periploca.  Remarks  on  the  proper  mode  of  introdacing 
vines.    Beautiful  effects  of  climbing  plants  in  connexion  with  buildings. 

Quite  over-canopied  vnth  lush  woodbine, 
With  sweet  musk  roses,  and  with  eglantine. 

Shaesfeabe. 


I  N  E  S  and  climbing  plants  are 
objects  full  of  interest  for  the  Land- 
scape Gardener,  for  they  seem 
endowed  with  the  characteristics 
of  the  graceful,  the  beautiful,  and 
the  picturesque,  in  their  luxuriant 
and  ever-varying  forms.  When  judiciously  introduced, 
therefore,  nothing  can  so  easily  give  a  spirited  or  graceful 
air  to  a  fine  or  even  an  ordinary  scene,  as  the  various 
plants  which  compose  this  group  of  the  vegetable  kingdom. 
We  refer  particularly  now  to  those  which  have  woody 
and  perennial  stems,  as  all  annual  or  herbaceous  stemmed 
plants  are  too  short-lived  to  afford  any  lasting  or 
permanent  addition  to  the  beauty  of  the  lawn  or  plea- 
sure-ground. 


VINES    AND    CLIMBING    PLANTS.  313 

Climbing  plants  may  be  classed  among  the  adventitious 
beauties  of  trees.  Who  has  nr>t  often  witnessed  with 
delight  in  our  native  forests,  the  striking  beauty  of  a  noble 
tree,  the  old  trunk  and  fantastic  branches  of  which  were 
enwreathed  with  the  luxuriant  und  pliant  shoots  and  rich 
foliage  of  some  beautiful  vine,  clothing  even  its  decayed 
limbs  with  verdure,  and  hanging  down  in  gay  festoons  or 
loose  negligent  masses,  waving  to  and  fro  in  the  air.  The 
European  Ivy  {Hedei^a  Helix)  is  certainly  one  of  the 
finest,  if  not  the  very  finest  climbing  plant  (or  more 
properly,  creeping  vine,  for  by  means  oi  its  little  fibres  or 
rootlets  on  the  stems,  it  will  attach  itself  to  trees,  walks, 
or  any  other  substance),  with  which  we  are  acquainted. 
It  possesses  not  only  very  fine  dark  green  palmated  foliage 
in  great  abundance,  but  the  foliage  has  that  agreeable 
property  of  being  evergreen, — which,  while  it  enhances 
its  value  tenfold,  is  at  the  same  time  so  rare  among  vines. 
The  yellow  flowers  of  the  Ivy  are  great  favorites  with 
bees,  from  their  honied  sweetness  ;  they  open  in  autumn, 
and  the  berries  ripen  in  the  spring.  When  planted  at  the 
root  of  a  tree,  it  will  often,  if  the  head  is  not  too  thickly 
clad  with  branches,  ascend  to  the  very  topmost  limbs  ; 
and  its  dark  green  foliage,  wreathing  itself  about  the  old 
and  furrowed  trunk,  and  hanging  in  careless  drapery  from 
the  lower  branches,  adds  greatly  to  the  elegance  of  even 
the  most  admirable  tree.  Spenser  describes  the  appear- 
ance of  the  Ivy  growing  to  the  tops  of  the  trees, 

"  Emongst  the  rest,  the  clamb'ring  Ivie  grew, 
Knitting  his  wanton  arms  with  grasping  hold, 
Lest  that  the  poplar  happely  should  renew 
Her  brother's  strokes,  whose  boughs  she  doth  enfold 
With  her  lythe  twigs,  till  they  the  top  survew, 
And  paint  with  pallid  green  her  buds  of  gold." 


314  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

The  fine  contrasts  between  the  dark  coloring  of  the 
leaves  of  the  Ivy,  and  the  vernal  and  autumnal  tints  of 
the  foliage  of  deciduous  trees,  are  also  highly  pleasing. 
Indeed  this  fine  climbing  plant  may  be  turned  to  advantage 
in  another  way  ;  in  reclothing  dead  trees  with  verdure. 
Sir  T.  D.  Lauder  says,  that  "  trees  often  die  from  causes 
which  we  cannot  divine,  and  there  is  no  one  who  is 
master  of  extensive  woods,  who  does  not  meet  with  many 
such  instances  of  unexpected  and  unaccountable  mortality. 
Of  such  dead  individuals  we  have  often  availed  ourselves, 
and  by  planting  Ivy  at  their  roots,  we  have  converted 
them  into  more  beautiful  objects  than  they  were  when 
arrayed  in  their  own  natural  foliage." 

The  Ivy  is  not  only  ornamental  upon  trees,  but  it  is 
also  remarkably  well  adapted  to  ornament  cottages,  and 
even  large  mansions,  when  allowed  to  grow  upon  the 
walls,  to  which  it  will  attach  itself  so  firmly  by  the  little 
rootlets  sent  out  from  the  branches,  that  it  is  almost 
impossible  to  tear  it  oft'.  On  wooden  buildings,  it  may 
perhaps  be  injurious,  by  causing  them  to  decay ;  but  on 
stone  buildings,  it  fastens  itself  firmly,  and  holds  both 
stone  and  mortar  together  like  a  coat  of  cement.  The 
thick  garniture  of  foliage  with  which  it  covers  the  surface, 
excludes  stormy  weather,  and  has,  therefore,  a  tendency 
to  preserve  the  walls,  rather  than  accelerate  their  decay. 
This  vine  is  the  inseparable  accompaniment  of  the  old 
feudal  castles  and  crumbling  towers  of  Europe,  and 
borrows  a  great  additional  interest  from  the  romance 
and  historical  recollections  connected  with  such  spots. 
Indeed  half  the  interest,  picturesque  as  well  as  poetical, 
of  those  time-worn  buildings,  is  conferred  by  this  plant, 
which  seeks  to  bind  together  and  adorn  with  something 


VINES    AND    CLIMBING    PLANTS.  31£ 

of  their  former  richness,  the  crumbling  fragments  that  are 
fast  tottering  to  decay  : — 

"  The  Ivy,  that  staunchest  and  firmest  friend, 
That  hastens  its  succoring  arm  to  lend 
To  the  ruined  fane  where  in  youth  it  sprung. 
And  its  pliant  tendrils  in  sport  were  flung. 
When  the  sinking  buttress  and  mouldering  tower 
Seem  only  the  spectres  of  former  power. 
Then  the  Ivy  clusters  round  the  wall. 
And  for  tapestry  hangs  in  the  moss-grown  hall. 
Striving  in  beauty  and  youth  to  dress 
The  desolate  place  in  its  loneliness." 

Romance  of  Nature. 

The  Ivy  lives  to  a  great  age,  if  we  may  judge  from  the 
specimens  that  overrun  some  of  the  oldest  edifices  of 
Europe,  which  are  said  to  have  been  covered  with  it  for 
centuries,  and  where  the  main  stems  are  seen  nearly  as 
large  as  the  trunk  of  a  middle  sized  tree. 

"  Whole  ages  have  fled,  and  their  works  decayed. 
And  nations  have  scattered  been  ; 
But  the  stout  old  Ivy  shall  never  fade 
From  its  hale  and  hearty  green  ; 
The  brave  old  plant  in  its  lonely  days. 
Shall  fatten  upon  the  past ; 
For  the  stateliest  building  man  can  raise. 
Is  the  Ivy's  food  at  last." 

The  Ivy  is  not  a  native  of  America ;  nor  is  it  by  any 
means  a  very  common  plant  in  our  gardens,  though  we 
know  of  no  apology  for  the  apparent  neglect  of  so  beautiful 
a  climber.  It  is  hardy  south  of  the  latitude  of  42°,  and  we 
have  seen  it  thriving  in  great  luxuriance  as  far  north  as 
Hyde  Park,  on  the  Hudson,  eighty  miles  above  New  York. 
One  of  the  most  beautiful  growths  of  this  plant,  which  has 


316  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

ever  met  our  eyes,  is  that  upon  the  old  mansion  in  the 
Botanic  Garden  at  Philadelphia,  built  by  the  elder  Bartram. 
That  picturesque  and  quaint  stone  building  is  beautifully 
overrun  by  the  most  superb  mantle  of  Ivy,  that  no  one  who 
has  once  seen  can  fail  to  remember  with  admiration.  The 
dark  grey  of  the  stone-work  is  finely  opposed  by  the  rich 
verdure  of  the  plant,  which  falls  away  in  openings  here  and 
there,  around  the  windows,  and  elsewhere.  It  never  thrives 
well  if  suffered  to  ramble  along  the  ground,  but  needs  the 
support  of  a  tree,  a  frame,  or  a  wall,  to  which  it  attaches 
itself  firmly,  and  grows  with  vigorous  shoots.  Bare  walls 
or  fences  may  thus  be  clothed  with  verdure  and  beauty 
equal  to  the  living  hedge,  in  a  very  short  period  of  time,  by 
planting  young  Ivy  roots  at  the  base. 

The  most  desirable  varieties  of  the  common  Ivy  are  :  the 
Irish  Ivy,  with  much  larger  foliage  than  the  common  sort, 
and  more  rapid  in  its  growth  ;  the  Silver-striped  and  the 
Gold-striped  leaved  Ivy,  both  of  which,  though  less  vigorous, 
are  much  admired  for  the  singular  color  of  their  leaves. 
The  common  English  Ivy  is  more  hardy  than  the  others 
in  our  climate. 

Although,  as  we  have  said,  the  Ivy  is  not  a  native  of  this 
country,  yet  we  have  an  indigenous  vine,  which,  at  least 
in  summer,  is  not  inferior  to  it.  We  refer  to  the  Virginia 
Creeper  {Ampelopsis  hederacea),  which  is  often  called  the 
American  Ivy.  The  leaves  are  as  large  as  the  hand, 
deeply  divided  into  five  lobes,  and  the  blossoms  are  suc- 
ceeded by  handsome,  dark  blue  berries.  The  Virginia 
Creeper  is  a  most  luxuriant  grower,  and  we  have  seen  it 
climbing  to  the  extremities  of  trees  70  or  80  feet  in  height. 
Like  the  Ivy  it  attaches  itself  to  whatever  it  can  lay  hold 
of,  by  the  little  rootlets  which  spring  out  of  the  branches  • 


VINES    AND    CLIMBING    PLANTS.  317 

and  its  foliage,  wiien  it  clothes  thickly  a  high  wall,  or  folds 
Itself  in  clustering  wreaths  around  the  trunk  and  branches 
of  an  open  tree,  is  extremely  handsome  and  showy.  Al- 
though the  leaves  are  not  evergreen,  like  those  of  the  Ivy, 
yet  in  autumn  they  far  surpass  those  of  that  plant  in  the 
rich  and  gorgeous  coloring  which  they  then  assume. 
Numberless  trees  may  be  seen  in  the  countr}'  by  the  road 
side,  and  in  the  woods,  thus  decked  in  autumn  in  the 
borrowed  glories  of  the  Virginia  Creeper ;  but  we  particu 
larly  remember  two  as  being  remarkably  striking  objects ; 
one,  a  wide-spread  elm — the  trunk  and  graceful  diverging 
branches  completely  clad  in  scarlet  by  this  beautiful  vine, 
with  wiiich  its  own  leaves  harmonized  well  in  their  fine 
deep  yellow  dress ;  the  other,  a  tall  and  dense  Cedar,  through 
whose  dark  green  boughs  gleamed  the  rich  coloring  of  the 
Virginia  Creeper,  like  a  half-concealed,  though  glowing 
fire. 

In  the  American  forests  nothing  adds  more  to  the  beauty 
of  an  occasional  tree,  than  the  tall  canopy  of  verdure  with 
which  it  is  often  crowned  by  the  wild  Grape  vine.  There 
its  tall  stems  wind  themselves  about  until  they  reach  the 
very  summit  of  the  tree,  where  they  cluster  it  over,  and 
bask  their  broad  bright  green  foliage  in  the  sunbeams.  As 
if  not  content  with  this,  they  often  completely  overhang  the 
head  of  the  tree,  falling  like  ample  drapery  around  on  every 
side,  until  they  sweep  the  ground.  We  have  seen  very 
beautiful  effects  produced  in  this  way  by  the  grape  in  its 
wild  state,  and  it  may  easily  be  imitated.  The  delicious 
fragrance  of  these  wild  grape  vines  when  in  blossom,  is 
unsurpassed  in  delicacy  ;  and  we  can  compare  it  to  nothing 
but  the  delightful  perfume  which  exhales  from  a  huge  bed 
of  Mignonette  in  full  bloom.     The  Bittersweet  {Celastrus 


318  LANDSCAPK  GARDENING. 

scandens)  is  another  well  known  climber,  which  ornaments 
our  wild  trees.  Its  foliage  is  very  bright  and  shining,  and 
the  orange-colored  seed-vessels  which  burst  open,  and  dis- 
play the  crimson  seeds  in  winter,  are  quite  ornamental.  It 
winds  itself  very  closely  around  the  stem,  however,  and  we 
have  known  it  to  sljangle  or  compress  the  bodies  of  young 
trees  so  tightly  as  to  put  an  end  to  their  growth. 

The  Trumpet  Creeper  {Bignonia  radicans)  is  a  very 
picturesque  climbing  plant.  The  stem  is  quite.woody,  and 
often  attains  considerable  size ;  the  branches,  like  those  of 
the  Ivy  and  Virginia  Creeper,  fasten  themselves  by  the 
roots  thrown  out.  The  leaves  are  pinnated,  and  the 
flowers,  which  are  borne  in  terminal  clusters  on  the  ends 
of  the  young  shoots  about  midsummer,  are  exceedingly 
showy.  They  are  tubes  five  or  six  inches  long,  shaped  like 
a  trumpet,  opening  at  the  extremity,  of  a  fine  scarlet  color 
on  the  outside,  and  orange  within.  The  Trumpet  Creeper 
is  a  native  of  Virginia,  Carolina,  and  the  states  further 
south,  where  it  chmbs  up  the  loftiest  trees.  It  is  a  great 
favorite  in  the  northern  states  as  a  climbing  plant,  and  very 
beautiful  eifects  are  som.etimes  produced  by  planting  it  at 
the  foot  of  a  tall-stemmed  tree,  which  it  will  completely 
surround  with  a  pillar  of  verdure,  and  render  very  orna- 
mental by  its  little  shoots,  studded  with  noble  blossoms. 

One  of  the  most  singular  and  picturesque  climbing  shrubs 
or  plants  which  we  cultivate,  is  the  Pipe-vine,  or  Birthwort 
{Aristolochia  sipho).  It  is  a  native  of  the  Alleghany  moun 
tains,  and  is  one  of  the  tallest  of  twining  plants,  growing 
on  the  trees  there  to  the  height  of  90  or  100  feet,  though 
in  gardens  it  is  often  kept  down  to  a  frame  of  four  or  five 
feet  high.  The  leaves  are  of  a  noble  size,  being  eight  or 
nine   inches   broad,   and   heart-shaped   in   outline.      The 


VINES    AND    CLIMBING    PLANTS.  319 

flowers,  about  an  inch  or  a  little  more  in  length,  are  very 
singular.  They  are  dark  yellow,  spotted  with  brown,  in 
shape  like  a  bent  siphon-like  tube,  which  opens  at  the  ex- 
tremity, the  whole  flower  resembling,  as  close  as  possible, 
a  very  small  Dutchman  s pipe,  whence  the  vine  is  frequently 
so  called  by  the  country  people.  It  flowers  in  the  begin- 
ning of  summer,  and  the  foliage,  during  the  whole  growing 
season,  has  a  very  rich  and  luxuriant  appearance.  Aristo- 
lochia  tomentosa  is  a  smaller  species,  with  leaves  and 
flowers  of  less  size,  the  former  downy  or  hairy  on  the  under 
surface. 

The  various  kinds  of  Clematis,  though  generally  kept 
within  the  precincts  of  the  garden,  are  capable  of  adding 
to  the  interest  of  the  pleasure  ground,  when  they  are 
planted  so  as  to  support  themselves  on  the  branches  of 
trees.  The  common  White  Clematis  or  Virgin's  Bower 
(C  virginica)  is  one  of  the  strongest  growing  kinds,  often 
embellishing  with  its  pale  white  blossoms,  the  whole 
interior  and  even  the  very  tops  of  our  forest  trees  in 
the  middle  states.  After  these  have  fallen,  they  are 
succeeded  by  large  tufts  of  brown,  hairy-like  plumes, 
appendages  to  the  clusters  of  seeds,  which  give  the  whole 
a  very  unique  and  interesting  look.  The  Wild  Atragene, 
with  large  purple  flowers,  which  blossom  early,  has  much 
the  same  habit  as  the  Clematis,  to  which,  indeed,  it  is  nearly 
related.  Among  the  finest  foreign  species  of  this  genus 
are,  the  Single  and  Double-flowered  purple  Clematis 
(C  vilicella  and  its  varieties),  which,  though  slender  in  their 
stems,  run  to  considerable  height,  are  very  pretty,  and 
blossom  profusely.  The  sweet  scented  and  the  Japan 
Clematis  (C.  Jlammula  and  C.  Jlorida),  the  former 
very   fragrant,    and  the  latter  beautiful,    are   perhaps  too 


320  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

tender,  except  for  the  garden,  where  they  are  highlj 
prized. 

The  Glycine  or  Wistaria  (Wistaria  puhescens)  is  a 
very  beautiful  climbing  plant,  and  adds  much  to  the 
gracefulness  of  trees,  when  trained  so  as  to  hang  from 
.heir  lower  branches.  The  leaves  are  pinnate,  and  the 
light  purple  flowers,  which  bloom  in  loose  clusters  like 
those  of  the  Locust,  are  universally  admired.  The 
Chinese  Wistaria  (W.  sinensis)  is  a  very  elegant  species 
of  this  plant,  which  appears  to  be  quite  hardy  here ;  and 
when  loaded  with  its  numerous  large  clusters  of  pendent 
blossoms,  is  highly  ornamental.  It  grows  rapidly,  and, 
with  but  little  care,  will  mount  to  a  great  height.  These 
vines  with  pinnated  foliage,  would  be  remarkably 
appropriate  when  climbing  up,  and  hanging  from  the 
branches  of  such  light  airy  trees  as  the  Three-thorned 
Acacia,  the  Locust,  etc. 

We  must  not  forget  to  enumerate  here  the  charming 
family  of  the  Honeysuckles  ;  some  of  them  are  natives  of 
the  old  world,  some  of  our  own  continent ;  and  all  of  them 
are  common  in  our  gardens,  where  they  are  universally 
prized  for  their  beauty  and  fragrance.  In  their  native 
localities  they  grow  upon  trees,  and  trail  along  the  rocks. 
The  species  which  ascends  to  the  greatest  height,  is  the 
common  European  Woodbine,*  which  twines  around  the 
stems,  and  hangs  from  the  ends  of  the  longest  branches  of 
trees : 

"  As  Woodbine  weds  the  plant  within  her  reach. 
Rough  Elm,  or  smooth-grained  Ash,  or  glossy  Beech, 
In  spiral  rings  ascends  the  trunk,  and  lays 
Her  golden  tassels  on  the  leafy  sprays." 

COWPEK. 

*  Woodbind  is  the  original  name,  derived  from  the  habit  of  the  plant  of 
winding  itself  around  trees,  and  binding  tlie  branches  together. 


VINES    AND    CLIMBING    PLANTS.  321 

The  Woodbine  (Lonicera  periclymenuvi)  has  separate, 
opposite  leaves,  and  bufF-colored  or  paler  yellow  and  red 
blossoms.  There  is  a  variety,  the  common  monthly 
Woodbine,  which  produces  its  flowers  all  summer,  and  is 
much  the  most  valuable  plant.  Another  (L.  p.  helgicum), 
the  Dutch  Honeysuckle,  blossoms  quite  early  in  spring; 
and  a  third  {L.  p.  quercifolium)  has  leaves  shaped  like 
those  of  the  oak  tree. 

The  finest  of  our  native  sorts  are  the  Red  and  Yellow 
trumpet  Honeysuckle  (L.  sempervirens  and  L.  Jlava), 
which  have  the  terminal  leaves  on  each  branch  joined 
together  at  the  base,  or  perfoliate,  making  a  single  leaf. 
They  blossom  in  the  greatest  profusion  during  the  whole 
summer  and  autumn,  and  their  rich  blossom  tubes,  sprinkled 
in  numerous  clusters  over  the  exterior  of  the  foliage,  as 
well  as  an  abundance  of  scarlet  berries  in  autumn,  entitle 
them  to  high  regard.  There  is  also  a  very  strong  and 
vigorous  species,  called  the  Orange  pubescent  Honeysuckle 
(L.  pubescens),  with  large,  hairy,  ciliate  leaves,  and  fine 
large  tawny  or  orange-colored  flowers.  It  is  a  very 
luxuriant  plant  in  its  habit,  and  a  very  distinct  species  to 
the  eye.  All  these  native  sorts  have  but  very  slight 
fragrance. 

The  Chinese  twining  Honeysuckle  (L.  jlexuosa)  is 
certainly  one  of  the  finest  of  the  genus.  In  the  form  of 
the  leaf  it  much  resembles  the  common  Woodbine  ;  but 
the  foliage  is  much  darker  colored,  and  is  also  sub-ever- 
green, hanging  on  half  the  winter,  and  in  sheltered  spots, 
even  till  spring.  It  blossoms  when  the  plant  is  old,  several 
times  during  the  summer,  bearing  an  abundance  of 
beautiful  flowers,  open  at  the  mouth,  red  outside,  and 
striped    with   red,    white,    or   yellow  within.       It    grows 

21' 


322  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

remarkably  fast,  climbing  to  the  very  summit  of  trees  in  a 
short  time ;  and  the  flowers,  which  first  appear  in  June, 
are  deliciously  fragrant.  In  all  its  varieties  the  Honey 
suckle  is  a  charming  plant,  either  to  adorn  the  porch  of  the 
cottage,  the  latticed  bower  of  the  garden — to  both  of  which 
spots  they  are  especially  dedicated — or  to  climb  the  stenr, 
of  the  old  forest  tree,  where — 

"  With  clasping  tendrils  it  invests  the  branch. 
Else  unadorn'd,  with  many  agay  festoon, 
And  fragrant  chaplet  ;  recompensing  well 
The  strength  it  borrows  with  the  grace  it  lends." 

There  it  diffuses  through  the  air  a  delicious  breath,  that 
renders  a  walk  beneath  the  shade  of  the  tall  trees  doubly 
delightful,  while  its  flowers  give  a  gaiety  and  brightness 
to  the  park,  which  forest  trees,  producing  usually  but 
inconspicuous  blossoms,  could  not  alone  impart. 

Some  of  the  climbing  Roses  are  very  lovely  objects  in 
the  pleasure-grounds.  Many  of  them,  at  the  north,  as  the 
Multifloras,  Noisettes,  etc.,  require  some  covering  in  the 
winter,  and  are  therefore  better  fitted  for  the  garden.  At 
the  south,  where  they  are  quite  hardy,  they  are,  however, 
most  luxuriant  and  splendid  objects.  But  there  are  two 
classes  of  Roses  that  are  perfectly  hardy  climbers,  and 
may  therefore  be  employed  with  great  advantage  by  the 
Landscape  Gai'dener — the  Michigan  and  the  Boursalt  trees. 
The  single  Michigan  is  a  most  compact  and  vigorous 
grower,  and  often,  in  its  wild  haunts  in  the  west,  clambers 
over  the  tops  of  tall  forest  trees,  and  decks  them  with  its 
abundant  clusters  of  pale  purple  flowers.  There  are  now 
in  our  gardens  several  beautiful  double  varieties  of  this, 
and  among  them,  one,  called  Beauty  of  the  Prairies,  is 


VINES    AND    CLIMBING    PLANTS.  323 

most  admired  for  its  large  rich  buds  and  blossoms  of  a  deep 
rose  color. 

The  Boursalt  roses  are  remarkable  for  their  profusion  of 
flowers,  and  for  their  shining,  reddish  stems,  with  few 
thorns.  The  common  Purple  or  Crimson  Boursalt  is  quite 
a  wonder  of  beauty  in  the  latter  part  of  May,  when  trained 
on  the  wall  of  a  cottage,  being  then  literally  covered  with 
blossoms ;  and  it  is  so  hardy  that  scarcely  a  branch  is  ever 
injured  by  the  cold  of  winter.  The  Blush  and  the  Elegans 
are  still  richer  and  finer  varieties  of  this  class  of  roses,  all 
of  which  are  well  worthy  of  attention. 

We  have  to  regret  that  the  inclemency  of  our  winters 
will  not  permit  us  to  cultivate  the  White  European 
Jasmine  (Jasmmum  officinale)  out  of  the  garden,  as  even 
there  it  requires  a  slight  protection  in  winter.  Below  the 
latitude  of  Philadelphia,  however,  it  will  probably  succeed 
well.  In  the  southern  states  they  have  a  most  lovely  plant, 
the  Carolina  Jasmine  {Gelseminum),  which  hangs  its 
beautiful  yellow  flowers  on  the  very  tree  tops,  and  the 
woods  there  in  spring  are  redolent  with  their  perfume. 

The  connoisseur  in  vines  will  not  forget  the  curious 
Periploca,  which  grows  very  rapidly  to  the  height  of  40 
or  50  feet,  and  bears  numerous  branches  of  very  curious 
brown  or  purple  flowers  in  summer;  or  the  Double- 
blossoming  Brambles,  both  pink  and  white,  which  often 
make  shoots  of  20  or  30  feet  long  in  a  season,  and  bear 
pretty  clusters  of  double  flowers  in  June.  All  these  fine 
climbers,  and  several  others  to  be  found  in  the  catalogues, 
may,  in  the  hands  of  a  person  of  taste,  be  made  to 
contribute  in  a  wonderful  degree  to  the  variety,  elegance, 
and  beauty  of  a  country  residence ;  and  to  neglect  to 
introduce  them  would  be  to  refuse  the  aid  of  some  of  the 


324  LANDSCAPE    GAIIDEN'ING. 

most  beautiful  accessories  that  are  capable  of  being  com- 
bined  with  trees,  as  well  as  with  buildings,  gardens,  and 
fences. 

Some  persons  object  to  the  growth  of  climbing  plants 
upon  trees,  that,  by  compressing  the  stems  and  tightening 
themselves  around  the  limbs  of  trees,  they  gradually  check 
their  growth,  and  finally  by  preventing  the  expansion  of 
the  trunk,  put  an  end  to  the  life  of  the  tree.  This,  we 
have  no  doubt,  has  been  the  case  when  young  trees  in  the 
full  vigor  of  growth  have  been  completely  encompassed 
and  wound  about  with  the  strong  growing  woody  creepers  ; 
but  it  so  rarely  happens  (scarcely  ever  in  the  case  of 
middle-sized  trees,  on  which  vines  are  more  generally 
planted),  that  we  consider  the  objection  of  no  moment. 
Indeed,  were  all  this  true,  the  management  of  the  growth 
of  any  vine,  however  luxuriant,  is  so  completely  within  the 
power  of  the  cultivator,  that  by  a  very  trifling  annual 
attention,  he  can  entirely  prevent  the  possibility  of  any 
such  injurious  effects. 

The  reader  must  not  imagine,  from  the  remarks  which 
we  have  here  made  on  the  beauty  and  charms  of  climbing 
plants,  that  we  would  desire  to  see  every  tree  in  an 
extensive  park  wreathed  about,  and  overhung  with  fantastic 
vines  and  creepers.  Such  is  by  no  means  our  intention. 
We  should  consider  such  a  proceeding  something  in  the 
worst  possible  taste.  There  are  some  trees  whose  rugged 
and  ungraceful  forms  would  refuse  all  such  accompani- 
ment ;  and  others  from  whose  dignity  and  majesty  it  would 
be  improper  to  detract  even  by  adding  the  gracefulness  of  the 
loveliest  vine.  Such,  too,  is  never  the  case  in  nature,  as 
for  one  tree  decked  in  this  manner  we  see  a  hundred  which 
aie   not,    and    the    very    rarity   of  the    example    imparts 


VINES    AND    CLIMBING    PLANTS.  825 

additional  beauty  and  interest  to  it  when  it  appears.  Tiiis 
should  be  the  case  in  all  artificial  plantations  ;  and  he  who 
has  a  true  and  lively  feeling  for  the  beautiful  and  pictur- 
esque, will  easily  understand  at  a  glance  where  these 
expressions  will  be  strengthened  or  w^eakened  by  the 
addition  of  more  grace  and  elegance.  A  few  scattered 
trees  here  and  there,  with  whose  forms  the  plans  adopted 
harmonize,  draped  and  festooned  with  the  most  appropriate 
climbing  plants,  will  be  all  that  can  be  properly  introduced 
in  any  scene,  unless  it  be  of  a  very  artificial  character 
but  even  these  additional  accessories,  simple  as  they  ma} 
seem,  often  produce  an  effect  singularly  beautiful,  which 
shows  how  much  in  real  landscape,  as  well  as  in  painting 
depends  upon  a  few  finishing  touches  to  the  scene. 

Although  we  are  not  now  writing  of  buildings,  it  is  not 
inappropriate  here  to  remark  how  much  may  be  done  in 
the  country,  and  indeed  even  in  town,  by  using  vines  and 
creepers  to  decorate  buildings.  The  cottage  in  this  country 
too  rarely  conveys  the  idea  of  comfort  and  happiness  which 
we  wish  to  attach  to  such  a  habitation,  and  chiefly  because 
so  often  it  stands  bleak,  solitary,  and  exposed  to  every  ray 
of  our  summer  sun,  with  a  scanty  robe  of  foliage  to  shelter 
it.  How  different  such  edifices,  however  humble,  become 
when  the  porch  is  overhung  with  climbing  plants, — when 
the  blushing  rose-buds  peep  in  at  the  window  sill,  or  the 
ripe  purple  clusters  of  the  grape  hang  down  about  the 
eaves,  those  who  have  seen  the  better  cottages  of  England 
well  know.  Very  little  care  and  trifling  expense  will 
procure  all  the  additional  beauty ;  and  it  is  truly  wonderful 
how  much  so  little  once  done,  adds  to  the  happiness  of  the 
inmates.  Every  man  feels  prouder  of  his  home  when  it  is 
a  pleasant  spot  for  the  eye  to  rest  upon,  than  when  it  is 


326  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

situated  iii  a  desert,  or  overgrown  with  weeds.  Besides 
this,  tasteful  embelHshment  has  a  tendency  to  refine  the 
feelings  of  every  member  of  the  family  ;  and  every  leisure 
hour  spent  in  rendering  more  lovely  and  agreeable  even 
the  humblest  cottage,  is  infinitely  better  employed  than  in 
ounging  about  in  idle  and  useless  dissipation. 


TREATMENI  OF  GROUNU. FOKMATION  OF  WALKS.    S^*" 


SECTION  VII. 

TREATMENT    OF    GROUND. FORMATION     OF    WALKS. 

Nature  of  operations  on  Ground.  Treatment  of  flowing  and  irregular  surfaces  tc 
heighten  their  expression  ;  flats,  or  level  surfeces.  Rocks,  as  materials  in  Landscape. 
Laying  out  Roads  and  Walks:  Directions  for  the  Approach:  Rules  by  Repton.  The 
Drive,  and  minor  walks.    The  introduction  of  fences  and  verdant  hedges 

"  Strength  may  wield  the  ponderous  spade, 


May  turn  the  clod  and  wheel  the  compost  home ; 
But  elegance,  chief  grace  the  garden  shows. 
And  most  attractive,  is  the  fair  result 
Of  thought,  the  creature  of  a  polished  mind." 

COWPEK. 


ROUND  is  undoubtedly  the  most  un- 
wieldy and  ponderous  material  that  comes 
„^,  under  the  care  of  the  Landscape  Gardener. 
It  is  not  only  difficult  to  remove,  the 
operations  of  the  leveller  rarely  extending  below  two  or 
three  feet  of  the  surface  ;  but  the  effect  produced  by  a 
given  quantity  of  labor  expended  upon  it,  is  generally 
much  less  than  when  the  same  has  been  bestowed  in 
the  formation  of  plantations,  or  the  erection  of  buildings. 
The  achievements  of  ar  upon  ground  appear  so  trifling, 
too,  when  we  behold  the  apparent  facility  with  which 
nature  has  arranged  it  in  such  a  variety  of  forms,  that 
the  former  sink  into  insignificance  when  compared  with 
.he  latter. 
For  these   reasons,    the    operations    to    be    performed 


32»  LANDSCAPE    GARDENING. 

upon  ground  in  this  country,  will  generally  be  limited 
to  the  neighborhood  of  the  house,  or  the  scenery  directly 
under  the  eye. '  Here,  by  judicious  levelling  and  smooth- 
ing in  some  cases,  or  by  raising  gentle  eminences  with 
interposing  hollows  in  others,  much  may  be  done  at  a 
moderate  expense,  to  improve  the  beauty  of  the  surround- 
ing landscape. 

It  is,  however,  fortunately  the  case,  that  in  the  modern 
style  of  landscape  improvement,  extensive  and  costly 
operations  upon  ground  are  very  seldom  needed.  By 
the  aid  of  plantations  arranged  as  we  have  alread}^ 
suggested,  much  may  be  done  to  soften  too  great 
inequality  of  surface,  as  well  as  to  heighten  the  apparent 
magnitude  of  gentle  undulations.  The  art  of  the 
improver,  when  employed  upon  this  material,  will, 
therefore,  be  directed  to  the  production  of  negative, 
rather  than  positive  effects, — to  the  removal  of  existing 
faults  or  blemishes,  rather  than  to  the  creation  of  an 
entirely  new  and  artificial  surface. 

To  pursue  this  method  with  success,  it  is  necessary 
that  he  should  refer  constantly  to  the  principle  which 
we  suggested  in  the  commencement  of  our  remarks  :  the 
preservation  of  the  natural  character  of  the  scene,  or,  we 
may  here  add,  the  heightening  of  the  character  intended 
for  the  form  of  the  surface.  We  have  already  remarked 
that  scenes  abounding  in  natural  beauty  were  chiefly 
characterized  by  gentle  undulations  of  surface,  and  smooth 
easy  transitions  from  the  level  plain  to  the  softly  swelling 
hill  or  flowing  hollow  ;  and  that,  on  the  contrary,  highly 
picturesque  scenes  exhibited  a  more  irregular  and  broken 
surface,  abounding  with  abrupt  transitions,  and  more 
strongly  marked  elevations  and  depressions. 


TREATMENT    OF    GROUND. FORMATION    OF    WALKS,        33'J 

In  a  scene  expressive  of  swiple  or  graceful  beauty 
where  the  surface  is  more  or  less  undulating,  the  first 
proceeding  of  the  improver  will  be  to  remove  any 
accidental  or  natuial  deformity  which  may  interfere  with 
that  expression.  Such  are  unsightly  ridges  of  earth,  small 
lumpish  hills,  the  ragged  elevations  where  old  fences  have 
been  removed,  or  deep  furrows  created  by  the  former 
action  of  the  plough.  If  there  are  any  uncouth  pits  or 
ugly  hollows,  such  must  be  either  filled  up,  or  concealed 
by  plantations,  and  all  excrescences  that  interfere  with  the 
prevailing  expression  of  the  whole  should  be  removed. 

In  the  next  place,  the  improver  will  examine  the 
formation  of  the  ground,  as  it  appears  naturally.  If  too 
rugged, — the  sweeps  and  undulations  sometimes  easy  and 
beautiful,  but  at  others  hard  and  disconnected, — he  will 
endeavor  to  soften  and  remove  this  inequality.  This  will 
be  easily  executed  if  some  of  the  eminences  are  broken 
into  too  high,  sudden,  and  abrupt  hills,  by  carefully  lower- 
ing them  into  more  graceful  elevations,  and  placing  the 
superfluous  earth  in  the  adjacent  hollows  :  proper  regard 
being  paid  to  portions  of  the  scene  already  pleasing,  by  pro- 
ducing such  a  surface  as  will  connect  itself  naturally  with  the 
same,  when  the  improvements  shall  be  entirely  completed. 

Should  the  surface,  on  the  contrary,  be  somewhat 
broken  or  undulating,  but  not  distinctly  so,  appearing 
rather  heavy  and  undecided  between  a  level  and  finely 
varied  ground,  the  operations  must  be  directed  in  such  a 
manner  as  to  increase  the  boldness  of  the  whole.  The 
ground  of  a  country  residence  is  often  brought  into  such 
a  state  by  the  continued  action  of  the  plough  at  some 
former  period,  which  has  gradually  levelled  down  the 
gentle  eminences   and  filled  up  the  hollows,  till  in  some 


330  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING, 

Dlaces  it  appears  scarcely  struggling  out  of  a  level.  The 
course  is  then  obvious  ;  the  superfluous  earth  which  chokes 
up  the  valleys,  must  be  removed  again  to  the  neighboring 
hills,  where  it  belongs,  when  the  natural  beauty  of  the 
ground  will  be  restored.  This  is  effected  with  compara 
tive  facility,  as  every  foot  of  surface  taken  from,  the 
depression,  adds  by  removal  two  feet  to  the  height  of  the 
adjoining  elevation. 

The  improvement  of  picturesque  surfaces  must  proceed 
in  a  similar  manner.  When  a  surface  is  naturally  and 
truly  picturesque,  art  will  add  little  or  nothing  to  its  effect. 
It  will  rather  therefore  endeavor  to  produce  a  perfect 
whole,  and  a  connexion  between  the  various  parts,  than 
to  disturb  the  existing  features.  In  the  vicinity  of  the 
house,  the  artist  will  soften  down  that  boldness  and 
inequality  which,  if  too  great,  might  interfere  both  with 
convenience  and  the  heauty  of  utility,  which  must  there  be 
constantly  kept  in  view.  Otherwise,  the  beauty  of 
picturesque  surfaces  may  be  often  heightened  by  various 
means  within  our  reach ;  such  as  increasing  the  abruptness 
of  surface  by  taking  avv^ay  a  few  feet  of  earth,  or  by  adding 
other  picturesque  irregularities,  which  by  connexion  may 
strengthen  the  expression  of  the  whole. 

Mr.  Price  has  remarked,  that  "the  ugliest  ground  is 
that  which  has  neither  the  beauty  of  smoothness,  verdure, 
and  gentle  undulation,  nor  the  picturesqueness  of  bold  and 
sudden  breaks,  and  varied  tints  of  soil :  of  such  kind,  is 
ground  that  has  been  disturbed  and  left  in  that  unfinished 
state :  as  in  a  rough  ploughed  field  run  to  sward."*  Such 
around  it  is  often  difficult  to  restore  to  a  picturesque  state, 
even  when  that  was  its  previous  expression.     But  it  is  not 

*  Essay  on  the  Picturesque,  i.  IS*?. 


TREATMENT    OF    GROUND. FORMATION    OF    WALKS.         331 

'mpossible  to  do  so,  for  it  must  be  remembered  that  it  is  not 
oy  forming  the  surface  alone  that  nature  renders  it 
picturesque,  but  also  by  the  accessories  and  accompa- 
niments which  she  liberally  bestows  upon  the  surface  when 
once  formed.  These  are,  vegetation,  trees,  rocks,  etc., 
which,  with  the  influence  of  time,  will  often  render  many 
a  scene,  that,  stripped  of  its  enriching  drapery,  would  be 
positively  harsh  and  ugly,  extremely  picturesque,  or 
strikingly  beautiful.  Proofs  of  this  will  occur  to  every  one 
who  will  contrast  in  his  mind  the  appearance  of  a  steep 
clayey  river  bank,  or  even  pit,  when  bare,  raw,  and 
verdureless,  and  the  same  objects  when  nature  or  art  has 
clothed  them  with  a  luxuriant  and  diversified  2;arniture  of 
trees,  shrubs,  and  plants.  In  the  former  case,  all  was 
positively  ugly  and  displeasing  to  the  eye  of  taste  ;  in  the 
latter,  all  is  picturesque  and  harmonious. 

A  perfect  flat,  or  level  surface,  is  often  the  most  difficult 
io  improve  of  any  description  of  ground.  In  some  cases, 
as  in  the  example  of  a  very  large  park,  with  an  immense 
building,  a  level  surface  may  be  in  excellent  keeping,  giving 
an  air  of  grandeur  to  the  whole  scene :  for  both  the 
simplicity  and  the  wide  extent  of  a  level  plain  in  such  a 
situation,  would  be  highly  expressive  of  grandeur  when 
united  to  a  fine  pile  of  building.  But  ordinarily,  a  flat 
surface  is  extremely  dull  and  uninteresting.  One  unbroken 
plain  of  green  is  spread  before  the  eye,  varied  by  none  of 
those  changing  lights  and  shadows  that  belong  to  a  finely 
undulating  lawn.  It  is  true  that  this  affects  the  mind 
differently  in  certain  situations,  as  a  broad  plain  is  a 
delightful  contrast  and  source  of  repose  in  a  mountainous 
country.  But  we  here  speak  of  the  greater  part  of  the 
surface   of  the   United   States,   where   country  seats  are 


332  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

located,  and  where  it  will  be  found  that  a  diversified 
surface  is  greatly  to  be  preferred  to  a  dead  level. 

Where  such  a  level  exists,  in  some  situations,  it  is  almost 
impossible  to  improve  it  much.  When,  for  illustration,  the 
whole  surrounding  country  is  equally  tame  and  flat,  the 
creation  by  artificial  means,  of  undulations,  hills,  or  hollows 
in  a  park,  would  be  in  such  evident  contradiction  to  the 
natural  formation,  that  the  eye  would  at  once  detect  it  as 
a  deception,  harmonizing  badly  with  general  nature.  The 
best  that  can  be  done  in  such  cases,  is,  perhaps,  to  produce 
the  greatest  possible  beauty  by  plantations  and  buildings, 
and  not  to  attempt  any  alterations  of  surface,  which  would 
be  insignificant  and  absurd. 

When,  however,  this  is  not  the  case,  but  the  grounds 
themselves,  though  nearly  level,  are  surrounded  by  more 
bold  and  spirited  variations  of  surface,  a  great  deal  may  be 
effected.  In  those  portions  of  the  grounds  nearest  the  sur- 
rounding inequalities,  the  latter  may  be  apparently  carried 
into  the  former,  and  the  artificial  sweeps,  breaks,  or  undu- 
lations in  the  park  may  be  so  connected  with  each  other, 
and  with  the  neighboring  irregularities,  as  to  produce  the 
effect  of  accordant  art  joined  to  the  charm  of  natural 
expression. 

The  error  into  which  inexperienced  improvers  are  con- 
stantly liable  to  fall,  is  a  want  of  breadth  and  extent  in  their 
designs ;  which  latter,  when  executed,  are  so  feeble  as  to 
be  full  of  littleness,  out  of  keeping  with  the  magnitude  of 
the  surrounding  scene.  Their  designs,  like  the  sketches 
of  a  novice  in  drawing,  are  cramped  and  meagre.  This  is 
exemplified  in  ground  by  their  producing,  instead  of  easy 
undulations,  nothing  but  a  succession  of  short  sweeps  and 
hillocks  like  waves  in  the  ocean.     Now  the  most  beautifu.' 


TREATMENT    OF    GROUND. FORMATION    CF    WALKS  333 

variation  in  ground  is  undoubtedly  that  of  gradually  vary- 
ing lines  and  insensible  transitions  of  surface,  and  these 
should  correspond  in  magnitude  and  breadth  to  the  size  and 
style  of  the  place.  Such  surfaces  are  full  of  the  flowing 
lines  and  rounded  smoothness  which  Burke  considers 
characteristic  of  beauty,  or  the  long  undulations  exhibit 
the  outlines  of  Hogarth's  favorite  line  of  grace. 

In  places  of  large  extent  there  may  be  scenes  in  different 
portions  of  the  park  of  totally  different  character ;  one  sim- 
ply beautiful,  abounding  with  graceful  and  flowing  lines, 
and  another  highly  picturesque,  and  full  of  spirited  breaks 
and  variations.  Such  often  form  very  pleasing  and  striking 

contrasts  to  each  other,  and  should  therefore,  bv  all  means, 

• 

be  preserved  :  but  they  should  also  be  rendered  distinct  by 
their  own  surrounding  plantations,  else  much  of  their  effect 
as  a  whole,  when  separately  considered,  will  be  lost  upon 
the  spectator.  For  it  should  be  remembered  the  mind  is 
incapable  of  appreciating  or  doing  justice  to  two  distinct 
and  dissimilar  expressions  at  the  same  time.  Whatever  be 
the  scene  to  be  improved,  therefore,  it  should  be  taken  by 
itself  and  considered  as  a  whole,  if  the  eye  command  that 
scene  alone.  Then  the  improver  can  proceed  on  the  prin- 
ciple that  every  piece  of  ground  is  distinguished  by  certain 
properties  :  it  is  either  tame  or  bold,  graceful  or  rude,  con- 
tinued or  broken ;  and  if  any  variety  inconsistent  with  these 
expressions  be  obtruded,  it  has  no  other  eflect  than  to 
weaken  one  idea  without  raising  another.  "  The  insipidity 
of  a  flat  is  not  taken  away  by  a  few  scattered  hillocks ;  a 
continuation  of  uneven  ground  can  alone  give  the  idea  of 
irregularity.  A  large,  deep,  abrupt  break,  among  easy 
swells  and  falls,  seems  at  best  but  a  piece  left  unfinished, 
and  which  ousht  to  have  been  softened  ;  it  is  not  more 


334  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

natural  because  it  is  more  rude.  On  the  other  hand,  a  fine 
small  polished  form,  in  the  midst  of  rough,  mis-shapen 
ground,  though  more  elegant  than  all  about  it,  is  generally 
no  better  than  a  patch,  itself  disgraced  and  disfiguring  the 
scene.  A  thousand  instances  might  be  added  to  show  that 
the  prevailing  idea  ought  to  pervade  every  part,  so  far  at 
least  indispensably,  as  to  exclude  whatever  distracts  it, 
and  as  much  further  as  possible  to  accommodate  the 
character  of  the  ground  to  that  of  the  scene  to  which  it 
belongs."* 

Rocks,  either  in  detached  fragments  or  large  masses, 
enter  into  the  composition  of  many  scenes,  and  sometimes 
have  an  excellent  effect.  Indeed  much  of  the  spirit  of 
picturesque  scenery  is  often  owing  to  the  bold  projections 
made  by  rocks  in  various  forms.  An  overhanging  cliff,  or 
steep  precipice,  a  moss-covered  rocky  bank,  or  even  a  group 
of  rocks  on  a  ledge,  from  which  springs  a  tuft  of  trees  and 
shrubs — all  these  give  strength  to  a  picturesque  scene. 
Their  effect  may  often  be  rendered  more  striking  by  art ; 
sometimes  by  removing  the  earth  or  loose  stones  from  the 
bottom  of  the  precipice,  so  as  greatly  to  increase  its  apparent 
height — for  the  perpendicular  position  is  the  finest  in  which 
rocks  can  be  viewed.  At  other  times  the  effect  of  a  con- 
tinuous range  of  rocks  may  be  much  improved  by  planting 
the  summit,  and  making  occasional  breaks  of  verdure  in 
tiie  front  surface. 

Rocks  which  are  too  apparent,  and  which  cannot  be 


*  Mr.  Whately  has  given  such  minute  and  excellent  details  in  relation  to 
tlus  subject,  in  his  Observations  on  Modern  Gardening,  that  we  gladly  refer 
the  reader  who  desires  to  pursue  this  subject  further,  to  that  work:  which 
indeed  is  so  unexceptionable  in  style  and  good  taste,  that  Alison  has  frequentJj 
quoted  i'  in   ;!:atration  of  his  admirable  Essay  on  Taste. 


TREATMENT    OF    GROUND. FORMATION    OF    WALKS.         335 

removed,  may  be  concealed  with  trees  and  vegetation,  or 
partially  covered  with  vines  and  creepers.  The  latter  often 
have  a  beautiful  effect  in  picturesque  scenery,  and  we  have 
seen  very  charming  pictures  formed  of  over-arching  cliffs 
and  groups  of  rock,  upon  which  hung  and  i-ambled  in 
luxuriant  profusion,  a  rich  mixture  of  climbing  plants. 
Where  rocks  thus  accidentally  occur  in  beautiful  scenes, 
to  which  they,  if  left  bare,  would  be  inimical,  they  may  be 
wonderfully  softened  and  brought  into  keeping  bv  a  cover- 
ing of  the  honeysuckle,  the  Ivy,  the  Virginia  creeper,  and 
other  species  of  the  gayest  and  most  luxuriant  flowering 
vines. 

Loose  and  detached  fragments  of  rocks  can  never  be 
permitted  to  lie  scattered  about  the  lawn  in  any  style.  In 
a  scene  expressive  of  graceful  beauty,  of  course  they  would 
be  entirely  out  of  place :  and  in  a  picturesque  scene,  they 
should  only  be  suffered  to  remain  in  spots  where  they  have 
some  evident  connexion  with  larger  masses.  If  they  were 
allowed  to  lie  loosely  around,  they  would  only  give  an  air 
of  confused  wildness,  opposed  to  everything  like  the  ele- 
gance of  tasteful  art  or  the  comfort  of  a  country  residence  ; 
but  if  only  seen  in  particular  snots  where  they  evidently 
belong,  they  will,  by  contrast,  give  force  and  spirit  to  the 
whole.  We  do  not  now  speak  of  large  rounded  boulders 
or  smooth  stones,  such  as  are  seen  lying  about  the  soil  in 
some  of  our  valley  tracts,  as  such  are  void  of  interest,  and, 
unless  they  are  large,  or  in  some  degree  remarkable,  they 
ought  to  be  at  once  removed  out  of  the  way.  Character- 
istic and  picturesque  rocks,  are  those  with  firm,  rugged,  and 
distinct  outlines,  externally  covered  with  a  coating  of 
weather  stains,  dark  lichens,  or  mosses,  and  which  meet 
the  eye  with  a  mellow  and  softened  tone  of  color. 


336  LANDSCAPE    GA1!DEMN«. 

Roads  and  walks  are  so  directly  connected  with  opera. 
tions  on  the  sui-face  of  the  ground,  and  with  the  disposition 
of  plantations,  which  we  have  already  made  familiar  to  the 
reader,  that  we  shall  introduce  in  this  place  a  few  remarks 
relative  to  their  direction  and  formation.  A  French  writer 
has  remarked  of  them  that  they  are  "  les  ruhans  qui  attachent 
le  bouquet,"  and  they  certainly  serve  as  the  connecting 
medium  between  the  different  parts  of  the  estate,  as  well  as 
the  means  of  displaying  its  various  beauties,  peculiarities, 
and  finest  points  of  prospect. 

The  Approach  is  by  far  the  most  important  of  these 
routes.  It  is  the  private  road,  leading  from  the  public 
highway,  directly  to  the  house  itself  It  should  therefore 
bear  a  proportionate  breadth  and  size,  and  exhibit  marks 
of  good  keeping,  in  accordance  with  the  dignity  of  the 
mansion. 

In  the  ancient  style  of  gardening,  the  Approach  was  so 
formed  as  to  enter  directly  in  front  of  the  house,  affording 
a  full  view  of  that  portion  of  the  edifice,  and  no  other.  A 
line  drawn  as  directly  as  possible,  and  evenly  bordered  on 
each  side  with  a  tall  avenue  of  trees,  was  the  whole 
expenditure  of  art  necessary  in  its  formation.  It  is  true, 
the  simplicity  of  design  was  often  more  than  counter- 
balanced by  the  difficulty  of  levelling,  grading,  and  altering 
ihe  surface,  necessary  to  please  the  geometric  eye  ;  but  the 
rules  were  as  plain  and  unchangeable,  as  the  lines  were 
parallel  and  undeviating. 

In  the  present  more  advanced  state  of  Landscape 
Gardening,  the  formation  of  the  Approach  has  become 
equally  a  matter  of  artistical  skill  with  other  details  of  the 
art.  The  house  is  generally  so  approached,  that  the  eye 
shall  first  meet  it  in  an  angular  direction,  displaying  not 


TAEATASENT    OF    GROUND. FORMATION    OF    WALKS.         337 

oiil}'  the  beauty  of  the  architectural  facade  but  also  one 
of  the  end  elevations,  thus  giving  a  more  complete  idea  of 
tiie  size,  character,  or  elegance  of  the  building :  and 
instead  of  leading  in  a  direct  line  from  the  gate  to  the 
house,  it  curves  in  easy  lines  through  certain  portions  of 
the  park  or  lawn,  until  it  reaches  that  object. 

If  the  point  where  the  Approach  is  to  start  from  the 
highway  be  not  already  determined  past  alteration,  it 
should  be  so  chosen  as  to  afford  a  sufficient  drive  through 
the  grounds  before  arriving  at  the  house,  to  give  the 
stranger  some  idea  of  the  extent  of  the  whole  property  :  to 
allow  an  agreeable  diversity  of  surface  over  which  to  lead 
it :  and  lastly  in  such  a  manner  as  not  to  interfere  with  the 
convenience  of  ready  access  to  and  from  the  mansion. 

This  point  being  decided,  and  the  other  being  the  man 
sion  and  adjacent  buildings,  it  remains  to  lay  out  the  road 
in  such  gradual  curves  as  will  appear  easy  and  graceful, 
without  verging  into  rapid  turns  or  formal  stiffness.  Since 
the  modern  style  has  become  partially  known  and  adopted 
here,  some  persons  appear  to  have  supposed  that  nature 
"  has  a  horror  of  straight  lines,"  and  consequently, 
believing  that  they  could  not  possibly  err,  they  immediately 
ran  into  the  other  extreme,  filling  their  grounds  with  zig- 
zag and  regularly  serpentine  roads,  still  more  horrible  : 
which  can  only  be  compared  to  the  contortions  of  a 
wounded  snake  dragging  its  way  slowly  over  the  earth. 

There  are  two  guiding  principles  which  have  been  laid 

down  for  the  formation  of  Approach  roads.     The  first,  that 

the  curves  should  never  be  so  great,  or  lead  over  surfaces 

>o  unequal,  a:^  to  make  it  disagreeable  to  drive  upon  them  ; 

and  the  second,  that  the  road  should  never  curve  without 

some  reason,  either  real  or  apparent. 

22 


338  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

The  most  natural  methodof  forming  a  winding  Apprca..^ 
where  the  ground  is  gently  undulating,  is  to  follow,  in  some 
degree,  the  depressions  of  surface,  and  to  curve  round  tht- 
eminences.  This  is  an  excellent  method,  so  long  as  it  doe.' 
not  lead  us  in  too  circuitous  a  direction,  nor,  as  we  before 
hinted,  make  the  road  itself  too  uneven.  When  either  of 
these  happens,  the  easy,  gradual  flow  of  the  curve  in  the 
proper  direction,  must  be  maintained  by  levelling  or 
grading,  to  produce  the  proper  surface. 

Nothing  can  be  more  unmeaning  than  to  see  an  Ap- 
proach, or  any  description  of  road,  winding  hither  and 
thither,  through  an  extensive  level  lawn,  towards  the 
house,  without  the  least  apparent  reason  for  the  curves. 
Happily,  we  are  not,  therefore,  obliged  to  return  to  the 
straight  line ;  but  gradual  curves  may  always  be  so  ar- 
ranged as  to  appear  necessarily  to  wind  round  the  groups  of 
trees,  which  otherwise  would  stand  in  the  way.  Wherever 
a  bend  in  the  road  is  intended,  a  cluster  or  group  of 
greater  or  less  size  and  breadth,  proportionate  to  the 
curve,  should  be  placed  in  the  projection  formed.  These 
ti-ees,  as  soon  as  they  attain  some  size,  if  they  are  properly 
arranged,  we  may  suppose  to  have  originally  stood  there, 
and  the  road  naturally  to  have  curved,  to  avoid  destroying 
them. 

This  arrangement  of  trees  bordering  an  extended 
Approach  road,  in  connexion  with  the  various  other 
groups,  masses,  and  single  trees,  in  the  adjacent  lawn,  will 
in  most  cases  have  the  effect  of  concealing  the  house  from 
the  spectator  approaching  it,  except,  perhaps,  from  one  or 
two  points.  It  has,  therefore,  been  considered  a  matter 
worthy  of  consideration,  at  what  point  or  points  the  first 


TREATMENT    OF    GROUND. FORMATION    OF    WALKS.        339 

view  of  the  house  shall  be  obtained.  If  seen  at  too  great 
a  distance,  as  in  the  case  of  a  large  estate,  it  may  appeal 
more  diminutive  and  of  less  magnitude  than  it  should ;  or, 
if  first  viewed  at  some  other  position,  it  may  strike  the 
eye  of  a  stranger,  at  that  point,  unfavorably.  The  best, 
and  indeed  the  only  way  to  decide  the  matter,  is  to  go 
over  the  whole  ground  covered  by  the  Approach  route 
carefully,  and  select  a  spot  or  spots  sufficiently  near  tc 
give  the  most  favorable  and  striking  view  of  the  house 
itself  This,  if  openings  are  to  be  made,  can  only  be  done 
in  winter  ;  but  when  the  ground  is  to  be  newly  planted,  it 
may  be  prosecuted  at  any  season. 

The  late  Mr.  Repton,  who  was  one  of  the  most  cele- 
brated English  practical  landscape  gardeners,  has  laid 
down  in  one  of  his  works,  the  following  rules  on  the 
subject,  which  we  quote,  not  as  applying  in  all  cases,  but 
to  show  what  are  generally  thought  the  principal  requisites 
of  this  road  in  the  modern  style. 

First.  It  ought  to  be  a  road  to  the  house,  and  to  that 
principally. 

Secondly.  If  it  be  not  naturally  the  nearest  road 
possible,  it  ought  artificially  to  be  made  to  appear  so. 

Thirdly.  The  artificial  obstacles  which  make  this  road 
the  nearest,  ought  to  appear  natural. 

Fourthly.  Where  an  approach  quits  the  high  road,  it 
ought  not  to  break  from  it  at  right  angles,  or  in  such  a 
manner  as  to  rob  the  entrance  of  importance,  but  rather 
at  some  bend  of  the  public  road,  from  which  a  lodge  or 
gate  may  be  more  conspicuou^s  ;  and  where  the  high  road 
may  appear  to  branch  from  the  a  oroach,  rather  than  the 
approach  from  the  high  road. 


340  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

Fifthly.  After  the  approach  enters  the  park,  it  shouid 
avoid  skirting  along  its  boundary,  which  betrays  the  want 
of  extent  or  unity  of  property. 

Sixthly.  The  house,  unless  very  large  and  magnificent, 
should  not  be  seen  at  so  great  a  distance  as  to  make  it 
appear  much  less  than  it  really  is. 

Seventhly.  The  first  view  of  the  house  should  be  from 
the  most  pleasing  point  of  sight. 

Eighthly.  As  soon  as  the  house  is  visible  from  the 
approach,  there  should  be  no  temptation  to  quit  it  (which 
will  ever  be  the  case  if  the  road  be  at  all  circuitous), 
unless  sufficient  obstacles,  such  as  water  or  inaccessible 
ground,  appear  to  justify  its  course.* 

Although  there  are  many  situations  where  these  rules 
must  be  greatly  modified  in  practice,  yet  the  improver  will 
do  well  to  bear  them  in  mind,  as  it  is  infinitely  more  easy 
to  make  occasional  deviations  from  general  rules,  than  to 
carry  out  a  tasteful  improvement  without  any  guiding 
principles. 

There  are  many  fine  country  residences  on  the  banks  of 
the  Hudson,  Connecticut,  and  other  rivers,  where  the  pro- 
prietors are  often  much  perplexed  and  puzzled  by  the 
situation  of  their  houses;  the  building  presenting  really 
two  fronts,  while  they  appear  to  desire  only  one.  Such  is 
the  case  when  the  estate  is  situated  between  the  public 
road  on  one  side,  and  the  river  on  the  other ;  and  we  have 
often  seen  the  Approach  artificially  tortured  into  a  long 
circuitous  route,  in  order  finally  to  arrive  at  what  the 
proprietor  considers  the  true  front,  viz.-  the  side  nearest 
the  river.     When  a  building  is  so  situated,  much  the  most 

«  Repton's  Inquiry  into  the  Changes  of  Taste  in  Landscape  Gardening,  p.  109. 


TREATMENT    OF    GROUND. FORMATION    OF    WALKS.         341 

elegant  effect  is  produced  by  having  two  fronts :  one,  the 
entrance  front,  with  the  porch  or  portico  nearest  the  road, 
and  the  other,  the  riverfront,  facing  the  water.  The  beauty 
of  the  whole  is  often  surprisingly  enhanced  by  this  arrange- 
ment, for  the  visitor,  after  passing  by  the  Approach  through 
a  considerable  portion  of  ihe  grounds,  with  perhaps  but 
slight  and  partial  glimpses  of  the  river,  is  most  agreeably 
surprised  on  entering  the  house,  and  looking  from  the 
drawing-room  windows  of  the  other  front,  to  behold  another 
Deautiful  scene  totally  different  from  the  last,  enriched  and 
ennobled  by  the  wide-spread  sheet  of  water  before  him. 
Much  of  the  effect  produced  by  this  agreeable  surprise 
from  the  interior,  it  will  readily  be  seen,  would  be  lost,  if 
the  stranger  had  already  driven  round  and  alighted  on  the 
river  front. 

The  Drive  is  a  variety  of  road  rarely  seen  among  us,  yet 
which  may  be  made  a  very  agreeable  feature  in  some  of 
our  country  residences,  at  a  small  expense.  It  is  intended 
for  exercise  more  secluded  than  that  upon  the  public  road, 
and  to  show  the  interesting  portions  of  the  place  from  the 
carriage,  or  on  horseback.  Of  course  it  can  only  be  formed 
upon  places  of  considerable  extent ;  but  it  enhances  the 
enjoyment  of  such  places  very  highly,  in  the  estimation  of 
those  who  are  fond  of  equestrian  exercises.  It  generally 
commences  where  the  approach  terminates,  viz.  near  the 
house :  and  from  thence,  proceeds  in  the  same  easy  curvi- 
linear manner  through  various  parts  of  the  grounds,  farm 
or  estate.  Sometimes  it  sweeps  through  the  pleasure 
grounds,  and  returns  along  the  very  beach  of  the  rivei, 
beneath  the  fine  overhanging  foliage  of  its  projecting  bank ; 
sometimes  it  proceeds  towards  some  favorite  point  of 
view,  or  interesting  spot  on  the  landscape  ;  or  at  others  il 


312  LANDSCAPE    GARDENING. 

leaves  the  lawn  and  traverses  the  farm,  giving  the  pro- 
prietor an  opportunity  to  examine  his  crops,  or  exhibit  his 
agricultural  resources  to  his  friends. 

Walks  are  laid  out  for  purposes  similar  to  Drives,  but 
are  much  more  common,  and  may  be  introduced  into  every 
sc'.ne,  however  Hmited.  They  are  intended  solely  for 
promenades  or  exercise  on  foot,  and  should  therefore  be 
dry  and  firm,  if  possible,  at  all  seasons  when  it  is  desirable 
to  use  them.  Some  may  be  open  to  the  south,  sheltered 
with  evergreens,  and  made  dry  and  hard  for  a  warm  pro- 
itiBnado  in  winter  ;  others  formed  of  closely  mown  turf, 
iii-A  thickly  shaded  by  a  leafy  canopy  of  verdure,  for  a  cool 
retreat  in  the  midst  of  summer.  Others  again  may  lead  to 
facme  Sequestered  spot,  and  terminate  in  a  secluded  rustic 
seat,  or  conduct  to  some  shaded  dell  or  rugged  eminence, 
where  an  extensive  prospect  can  be  enjoyed.  Indeed,  the 
genius  of  the  place  must  suggest  the  direction,  length,  and 
number  of  the  walks  to  be  laid  out,  as  no  fixed  rules  can  be 
imposed  in  a  subject  so  everchanging  and  different.  It 
should,  however,  never  be  forgotten,  that  the  walk  ought 
always  to  correspond  to  the  scene  it  traverses,  being  rough 
where  the  latter  is  wild  and  picturesque,  sometimes  scarcely 
differing  from  a  common  footpath,  and  more  polished  as 
the  surrounding  objects  show  evidences  of  culture  and  high 
keeping.  In  direction,  like  the  approach,  it  should  take 
easy  flowing  curves,  though  it  may  often  turn  more 
abruptly  at  the  interposition  of  an  obstacle.  The  chief 
beauty  of  curved  and  bending  lines  in  walks,  lies  in  the 
new  scenes  which  by  means  of  them  are  opened  to  the 
eye.  In  the  straight  walk  of  half  a  mile  the  whole  is  seen 
at  a  glance,  and  there  is  too  often  but  little  to  excite  the 
spectator  to  pursue  the  search  ;  but  in  the  modern  style,  at 


TREATMENT    OF    GROUND. FORMATIOr^    OF    WALKS.        343 

every  few  rods,  a  new  turn  in  the  walk  opens  a  new 
}'rospect  to  the  beholder,  and  "leads  the  eye,"  as  Hogarth 
graphically  expressed  it,  "  a  kind  of  wanton  chase,"  con- 
tinually  affording  new  refreshment  and  variety. 

Fences  are  often  among  the  most  unsightly  and  offensive 
objects  in  our  country  seats.  Some  persons  appear  to 
have  a  passion  for  subdividing  their  grounds  into  a  great 
number  of  fields ;  a  process  which  is  scarcely  ever 
advisable  even  in  common  farms,  but  for  which  there  can 
be  no  apology  in  elegant  residences.  The  close  proximity 
of  fences  to  the  house  gives  the  whole  place  a  confined 
and  mean  character.  "  The  mind,"  says  Repton,  "  feels  a 
certain  disgust  under  a  sense  of  confinement  in  any 
situation,  however  beautiful."  A  wide-spread  lawn,  on  the 
contrary,  where  no  boundaries  are  conspicuous,  conveys 
an  impression  of  ample  extent  and  space  for  enjoyment. 
It  is  frequently  the  case  that,  on  that  side  of  the  house 
nearest  the  outbuildings,  fences  are,  for  convenience, 
brought  in  its  close  neighborhood,  and  here  they  are  easily 
concealed  by  plantations  ;  but  on  the  other  sides,  open  and 
unobstructed  views  should  be  preserved,  by  removing  all 
barriers  not  absolutely  necessary. 

Nothing  is  more  common,  in  the  places  of  cockneys  who 
become  inhabitants  of  the  country,  than  a  display  imme- 
diately around  the  dwelling  of  a  spruce  paling  of  carpentry, 
neatly  made,  and  painted  white  or  green  ;  an  abomination 
among  the  fresh  fields,  of  which  no  person  of  taste  could 
be  guilty.  To  fence  off  a  small  plot  around  a  fine  house, 
in  the  midst  of  a  lawn  of  fifty  acres,  is  a  perversity  which 
we  could  never  reconcile,  with  even  the  lowest  perception 
of  beauty.  An  old  stone  wall  covered  with  creepers  and 
climbing    plants,   may    become     a   picturesque  barrier   a 


344  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

thousand  times  superior  to  such  a  fence.  But  there  is 
never  one  instance  in  a  thousand  where  any  barrier  is 
necessary.  Where  it  is  desirable  to  separate  the  iiouse 
from  the  level  grass  of  the  lawn,  let  it  be  done  by  an 
architectural  terrace  of  stone,  or  a  raised  platform  of 
gravel  supported  by  turf,  which  will  confer  importance  and 
dignity  upon  the  building,  instead  of  giving  it  a  petty  and 
trifling  expression. 

Verdant  hedges  are  elegant  substitutes  for  stone  or 
wooden  fences,  and  we  are  surprised  that  their  use  has  not 
been  hitherto  more  general.  We  have  ourselves  Deen 
making  experiments  for  the  last  ten  years  with  various 
hedge-plants,  and  have  succeeded  in  obtaining  some 
hedges  which  are  now  highly  admired.  Five  or  six  years 
will,  in  this  climate,  under  proper  care,  be  sufficient  to 
produce  hedges  of  great  beauty,  capable  of  withstanding 
the  attacks  of  every  kind  of  cattle  ;  barriers,  too,  which 
will  outlast  many  generations.  The  common  Arhor  VitcB 
(or  flat  Cedar),  which  grows  in  great  abundance  in  many 
districts,  forms  one  of  the  most  superb  hedges,  without  the 
least  care  in  trimming;  the  foliage  growing  thickly  down 
to  the  very  ground,  and  being  evergreen,  the  hedge 
remains  clothed  the  whole  year.  Our  common  Thorns, 
and  in  particular  those  known  in  the  nurseries  as  the 
Newcastle  and  Washington  thorns,  form  hedges  of  great 
strength  and  beauty.  They  are  indeed  much  better 
adapted  to  this  climate  than  the  English  Hawthorn,  which 
often  suffers  from  the  unclouded  radiance  of  our  midsummer 
sun.  In  autumn,  too,  it  loses  its  foliage  much  sooner  than 
our  native  sorts,  some  of  which  assume  a  brilliant  scarlet 
when  the  foliage  is  fading  in  autumn.  In  New  England, 
the  Buckthorn  is  preferred  from  its  rapid  and  luxuriant 


TREATMENT    OF    GROUND. FORMATION    OF    WALKS.         345 

i^rowth  ;*  and  in  the  middle  states,  the  Mackira,  or  Osage 
Orange,  is  becoming  a  favorite  for  its  glossy  and  polished 
foliage.  The  Privet,  or  Prim,  is  a  rapid  growing  shrub, 
well  fitted  for  interior  divisions.  Picturesque  hedges  are 
easily  formed  by  intermingling  a  variety  of  flowering 
shrubs,  sw^eet  briers,  etc.,  and  allowing  the  whole  to  grow 
together  in  rich  masses.  For  this  purpose  the  Michigan 
rose  is  admirably  adapted  at  the  north,  and  the  Cherokee 
rose  at  the  south.  In  all  cases  where  hedges  are  employed 
in  the  natural  style  of  landscape  (and  not  in  close  con- 
nexion with  highly  artificial  objects,  buildings,  etc.),  a 
more  agreeable  effect  will  be  produced  by  allowing  the 
hedge  to  grow  somewhat  irregular  in  form,  or  varying  it 
by  planting  near  it  other  small  trees  and  shrubs  to  break 
the  outline,  than  by  clipping  it  in  even  and  formal  lines. 
Hedges  may  be  obtained  in  a  single  season,  by  planting 
long  shoots  of  the  osier  willow,  or  any  other  tree  which 
throws  out  roots  easily  from  cuttings. 

A  simple  and  pleasing  barrier,  in  good  keeping  with 
cottage  residences,  may  be  formed  of  rustic  work,  as  it  is 
termed.  For  this  purpose,  stout  rods  of  any  of  our  native 
forest  trees  are  chosen  (Cedar  being  preferable)  with  the 
bark  on,  six  to  ten  feet  in  length  ;  these  are  sharpened  and 
driven  into  the  ground  in  the  form  of  a  lattice,  or  wrought 
into  any  figures  of  trellis  that  the  T^ocy  may  cuggest. 
When  covered  with  luxuriant  vines  and  climbinc-  plants, 
such  a  barrier  is  often  admirable  for  its  rici'.ness  and 
variety. 

»  The  Buckthorn  is  perhaps  the  best  plant  where  a  thick  screen  is  very 
speedily  desired.  It  is  not  liable  to  the  attack  of  insects  ;  grows  very  thickly 
at  the  bottom,  at  once;  and  will  make  an  efficient  screen  sooner  than  almost 
^ny  other  plant. 


346  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

The  sunken  fence,  fosse,  or  ha-ha,  is  an  English  in- 
vention, used  in  separating  that  portion  of  the  lawn  near 
the  house,  from  the  part  grazed  by  deer  or  cattle,  and  is 
only  a  ditch  sufficiently  wide  and  deep  to  render  com- 
munication difficult  on  opposite  sides.  When  the  ground 
slopes  from  the  house,  such  a  sunk  fence  is  invisible  to  a 
person  near  the  latter,  and  answers  the  purpose  of  a 
barrier  without  being  in  the  least  obtrusive. 

In  a  succeeding  section  we  shall  refer  to  terraces  with 
their  parapets,  which  are  by  far  the  most  elegant  barriers 
for  a  highly  decorated  flower  garden,  or  for  the  purpose  of 
maintaining  a  proper  connexion  between  the  house  and  the 
grounds,  a  subject  which  is  scarcely  at  all  attended  to,  or 
its  importance  even  recognised  as  yet  among  us. 


TKEATMENT    OF    WATER. 


34^ 


SECTION  VIII. 


TREATMENT    OP    WATER. 


Beautiful  effects  of  this  element  in  nature.  In  what  cases  it  is  desirable  to  attempt  the 
formation  of  artificial  pieces  of  water.  Regular  forms  unpleasing.  Directions  for  the 
formation  of  ponds  or  lakes  in  the  irregular  manner.  Study  of  natural  lakes.  Islands 
Planting  the  margin.  Treatment  of  natural  brooks  and  rivulets.  Cascades  and  water- 
falls.   Legitimate  sphere  of  the  art  in  this  department. 

-The  dale 

With  woods  o'erhung,  and  shagg'd  with  mossy  rocks, 
Whence  on  each  hand  the  gushing  waters  play, 
And  down  the  rough  cascade  white-da.shing  fall. 
Or  gleam  in  lengthened  vista  through  the  trees. 

Thomsow. 


H  E  delightful  and  captivating  effects  of 
water  in  landscapes  of  every  description, 
are  universally  known  and  admitted. 
The  boundless  sea,  the  broad  full  river,  the  dashing  noisy 
brook,  and  the  limpid  meandering  rivulet,  are  all  possessed 
of  their  peculiar  charms  ;  and  when  combined  with  scenes 
otherwise  finely  disposed  and  well  wooded,  they  add  a 
hundred  fold  to  their  beauty.  The  soft  and  trembling 
shadows  of  the  surrounding  trees  and  hills,  as  they  fall 
upon  a  placid  sheet  of  water — the  brilliant  light  which  the 
crystal  surface  reflects  in  pure  sunshine,  mirroring,  too,  at 
limes  in  its  resplendent  bosom,  all  the  cerulean  depth  and 
snowy  whiteness  of  the  overhanging  sky,  give  it  an  almost 


348  LANDSCAPE  GAurK:,'ir:u. 

magical  effect  in  a  beautiful  landscape.     The  murmur  of 
the  babbling  brook,  that 

"  la  linked  sweetness  long  drawn  out," 

falls  upon  the  ear  in  some  quiet  secluded  spot,  is  inex 
pressibly  soothing  and  delightful  to  the  mind  ;  and  the 
deeper  sound  of  the  cascade  that  rushes,  with  an  almost 
musical  dash,  over  its  bed  of  moss-covered  rock,  is  one  of 
the  most  fascinating  of  the  many  elements  of  enjoyment 
in  a  fine  country  seat.  The  simplest  or  the  most  mono- 
tonous view  may  be  enlivened  by  the  presence  of  water  in 
any  considerable  quantity ;  and  the  most  picturesque  and 
striking  landscape  will,  by  its  addition,  receive  a  new 
charm,  inexpressibly  enhancing  all  its  former  interest. 
In  short,  as  no  place  can  be  considered  perfectly  complete 
without  either  a  water  view  or  water  upon  its  own 
grounds,  wherever  it  does  not  so  exist  and  can  be  easily 
formed  by  artificial  means,  no  man  will  neglect  to  take 
advantao-e  of  so  fine  a  source  of  embellishment  as  is  this 
element  in  some  of  its  varied  forms. 

" Fleuves,  ruisseaux,  beaux  lacs,  claires  fontaines. 


Venez,  portez  partout  la  vie  et  la  fraicheur  ? 

Ah  !  qui  peut  remplacer  votre  aspect  enchanteur  ? 

De  pres  il  nous  amuse,  et  de  loin  nous  invite : 

C'est  le  premier  qu'on  cherche,  et  le  dernier  qu'on  quitte. 

Vous  fecondez  les  champs  ;  vous  repetez  les  cieux  ; 

Vous  enchantez  I'oreille,  et  vous  charmez  les  yeux." 

In  this  country,  where  the  progress  of  gardening  and 
improvements  of  this  nature,  is  rather  shown  in  a  simple 
and  moderate  embellishment  of  a  large  number  of  villas 
and  country  seats,  than  by  a  lavish  and  profuse  expen- 
diture on  a  few  entailed  places,  as  in  the  residences  of  the 
English  nobility,  the  formation  of  large  pieces  of  watei 


TREATMENT    OF    WATER.  349 

A\  great  cost  and  extreme  labor,  would  be  considered 
loth  absurd  and  uncalled  for.  Indeed,  when  nature  ha? 
so  abundantly  spread  before  us  such  an  endless  variety  of 
superb  lakes,  rivers,  and  streams  of  every  size  and  descrip- 
tion, the  efforts  of  man  to  rival  her  great  works  by  mere 
imitation,  would,  in  most  cases,  only  become  ludicrous  by 
contrast. 

When,  however,  a  number  of  perpetual  springs  clustei 
together,  or  a  rill,  rivulet,  or  brook,  runs  through  an  estate 
in  such  a  manner  as  easili/  to  be  improved  or  developed 
into  an  elegant  expanse  of  water  in  any  part  of  the 
grounds,  we  should  not  hesitate  to  take  advantage  of  so 
fortunate  a  circumstance.  Besides  the  additional  beauty 
conferred  upon  the  whole  place  by  such  an  improvement, 
the  proprietor  may  also  derive  an  inducement  from  its 
Utility  ;  for  the  possession  of  a  small  lake,  well  stocked 
with  carp,  trout,  pickerel,  or  any  other  of  the  excellent 
pond  fish,  which  thrive  and  propagate  extremely  well  in 
clear  fresh  water,  is  a  real  advantage  which  no  one  will 
undervalue. 

There  is  no  department  of  Landscape  Gardening  which 
appears  to  have  been  less  understood  in  this  country  than 
the  management  of  water.  Although  there  have  not  been 
many  attempts  made  in  this  way,  yet  the  occasional  efforts 
that  have  been  put  forth  in  various  parts  of  the  country,  in 
the  shape  of  square,  circular,  and  oblong  pools  of  water, 
ind  cate  a  state  of  knowledge  extremely  meagre,  in  the  art 
of  Landscape  Gardening.  The  highest  scale  to  which 
these  pieces  of  water  rise  in  our  estimation  is  that  of 
respectable  horse-ponds  ; — beautjful  objects  they  certainly 
are  not.  They  are  generally  round  or  square,  with 
periectiy  smooth,  flat  banks  on  every  side,  and  resemble 


350  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

in  lameness  and  insipidity,  a  huge  basin  set  down  in  il:e 
middle  of  a  green  lawn.  They  are  even,  in  most  cases, 
denied  the  advantage  of  shade,  except  perhaps  occasionally 
a  few  straggling  trees  can  be  said  to  fulfil  that  purpose ; 
for  richly  tufted  margins,  and  thickets  of  overhanging 
shrubs,  are  accompaniments  rare  indeed.* 

*  Simple  and  easy  as  would  appear  the  artificial  imitation  of  these  variations 
of  nature,  yet  to  an  unpractised  hand  and  a  tasteless  mind,  nothing  is  really 
■nore  difficult.  To  produce  meagre  right  lines  and  geometrical  forms  is 
extremely  easy  in  any  of  the  fine  arts,  but  to  give  the  grace,  spirit,  and  variety 
of  nature,  requires  both  tasteful  perception  and  some  practice ;  hence,  in  the 
infancy  of  any  art,  the  productions  are  characterized  by  extreme  meagreness 
and  simplicity  ; — of  which  the  first  efforts  to  draw  the  human  figure  or  to  form 
artificial  pieces  of  water,  are  good  examples. 

Brown,  who  was  one  of  the  early  practitioners  of  the  modern  style  abroad, 
and  who  just  saw  far  enough  to  lay  aside  the  ancient  formal  method,  without 
appreciating  nature  sufficiently  to  be  willing  to  take  her  for  his  model,  oi-  •.• 
disgraced  half  of  the  finest  places  in  England  with  las  tame,  bald  pieccF  .if 
artificial  water,  and  round,  fonnal  clumps  of  trees.  Mr.  Knight,  in  in 
elegant  poem,  "The  Landscape,"  spiritedly  rebuked  this  practice  in  Lio 
following  lines: — 

"  Shaved  to  the  brink  our  brooks  are  taught  to  flow 
Where  no  obtruding  leaves  or  branches  grow  : 
While  clumps  of  shrubs  bcspot  each  winding  vale 
Open  alike  to  every  gleam  and  gale : 
Each  secret  haunt  and  deep  recess  display'd. 
And  intricacy  banished  with  its  shade. 

Hence,  hence  I  thou  haggard  fiend,  however  call'd, 
The  meagre  genius  of  the  bare  and  bald  ; 
Thy  spade  and  mattock  here  at  length  lay  down, 
And  follow  to  the  tomb,  thy  favorite.  Brown  ; 
Thy  favorite  Brown,  whose  innovating  hand 
First  dealt  thy  curses  o'er  this  fertile  land  ; 
First  taught  the  walk  in  spiral  forms  to  move. 
And  from  their  haunts  the  secret  Dryads  drove  ; 
With  clumps  bespotted  o'er  the  mountahi's  sida. 
And  bade  the  stream  'twixt  banks  dose-shaver.  ^lidft ; 
Bani-sh'd  the  thickets  of  high  tow'ring  wood 
Which  hung  reflected  o'er  the  glassv  flood." 


TREATMENT    OF    WATEU.  35 

Lakes  or  ponds  are  the  most  beautiful  forms  in  which 
water  can  be  displayed  in  the  grounds  of  a  country 
residence.*  They  invariably  produce  their  most  pleasing 
effects  when  they  are  below  the  level  of  the  house  ;  as,  if 
above,  they  are  lost  to  the  view,  and  if  placed  on  a  level 
with  the  eye,  they  are  seen  to  much  less  advantage.  We 
conceive  that  they  should  never  be  introduced  where  they 
do  not  naturally  exist,  except  with  the  concurrence  of  the 
following  circumstances.  First,  a  sufficient  quantity  of 
running  water  to  maintain  at  all  times  an  overflow,  for 
nothing  can  be  more  unpleasant  than  a  stagnant  pool,  as 
nothing  is  more  delightful  than  pure,  clear,  limpid  water ; 
and  secondly,  some  natural  formation  of  ground,  in  which 
the  proposed  water  can  be  expanded,  that  will  not  only 
make  it  appear  natural,  but  diminish,  a  hundred  fold,  the 
expense  of  formation. 

The  finest  and  most  appropriate  place  to  form  a  lake,  is 
m  the  bottom  of  a  small  valley,  rather  broad  in  proportion 
to  its  length.  The  soil  there  will  probably  be  found  rather 
clayey  and  retentive  of  moisture  ;  and  the  rill  or  brook,  if 
not  already  running  through  it,  could  doubtless  be  easily 
diverted  thither.  There,  by  damming  up  the  lower  part 
of  the  valley  with  a  head  of  greater  or  less  height,  the  water 
may  be  thrown  back  so  as  to  form  the  whole  body  of  the 
lake. 

The  first  subject  which  will  demand  the  attention,  after 
the  spot  has  been  selected  for  the  lake  or  pond,  and  the 


•  Owing  to  the  immense  scale  upon  which  nature  displays  this  fine  element 
in  North  America,  every  sheet  of  water  of  moderate  or  small  size  is  almost 
universally  called  a  pond.  And  many  a  beautiful,  limpid,  natural  expanse, 
which  in  England  would  be  thought  a  channing  lake,  is  here  simply  a  pond 
The  term  may  be  equally  correct,  but  it  is  by  no  means  as  elegant. 


352  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

height  of  the  head  and  consequent  depth  of  water  deter 
mined  upon,  is  the  proposed /orm  or  outline  of  the  whole 
And,  as  we  have  already  rejected  all  regular  and  geometric 
forms,  in  scenes  where  either  natural  or  picturesque  beauty 
is  supposed  to  predominate,  we  must  turn  our  attention  to 
examples  for  imitation  in  another  direction. 

If,  then,  the  improver  will  recur  to  the  most  beautiful 
small  natural  lake  within  his  reach,  he  will  have  a  subject 
to  study  and  an  example  to  copy  well  worthy  of  imitation. 
If  he  examine  minutely  and  carefully  such  a  body  of  water, 
with  all  its  accompaniments,  he  will  find  that  it  is  not  only 
delightfully  wooded  and  overshadowed  by  a  variety  of 
vegetation  of  all  heights,  from  the  low  sedge  that  grows 
on  its  margin,  to  the  tall  tree  that  bends  its  branches  over 
its  limpid  wave  ;  but  he  will  also  perceive  a  striking  pecu- 
liarity in  its  irregular  outline.  This,  he  will  observe,  is 
neither  round,  square,  oblong,  nor  any  modification  of  these 
regular  figures,  but  full  of  bays  and  projections,  sinuosities, 
and  recesses  of  various  forms  and  sizes,  sometimes  bold, 
and  reaching  a  considerable  way  out  into  the  body  of  the 
lake,  at  others,  smaller  and  more  varied  in  shape  and  con- 
nexion. In  the  heights  of  the  banks,  too,  he  will  probably 
observe  considerable  variety.  At  some  places,  the  shore 
will  steal  gently  and  gradually  away  from  the  level  of  the 
water,  while  at  others  it  will  rise  suddenly  and  abruptly,  in 
banks  more  or  less  steep,  irregular,  and  rugged.  Rocks  and 
stones  covered  with  mosses,  will  here  and  there  jut  out 
from  the  banks,  or  lie  along  the  margin  of  the  water,  and 
the  whole  scene  will  be  full  of  interest  from  the  variety 
intricacy,  and  beauty  of  the  various  parts.  If  he  will 
accurately  note  in  his  mind  all  these  varied  f')f»'^s-  l^.eir 
separate  outlines,  the  way  in  which  they  blend  iiito  one 


TREATMENT    OF    WATER. 


another,  and  connect  themselves  together,  and  the  effect 
which,  surrounding  the  water,  they  produce  as  a  whole,  he 
will  have  some  tolerably  correct  ideas  of  the  way  in  which 
an  artificial  lake  ought  to  be  formed. 

Let  him  go  still  further  now,  in  imagination,  and  suppose 
the  banks  of  this  natural  lake,  without  being  otherwise 
altered,  entirely  denuded  of  grass,  shrubs,  trees,  and  verdure 
of  every  description,  remaining  characterized  only  by  their 
original  form  and  outline  ;  this  will  give  him  a  more  com- 
plete view  of  the  method  in  which  his  labors  must  com- 
mence ;  for  uncouth  and  apparently  mis-shapen  as  those 
banks  are  and  must  be,  when  raw  and  unclothed,  to  exhibit 
all  their  variety  and  play  of  light  and  shadow  when  verdant 
and  complete,  so  also  must  the  original  form  of  the  banivs 
and  margin  of  the  piece  of  artificial  water,  in  order  finally 
to  assume  the  beautiful  or  picturesque,  be  made  to  assume 
outlines  equally  rough  and  harsh  in  their  raw  and  incom- 
plete state. 

It  occasionally  happens,  though  rarely,  that  around  the 
hollow  or  valley  where  it  is  proposed  to  form  the  piece  of 
water,  the  ground  rises  in  such  irregular  form,  and  is  so 
undulating,  receding,  and  projecting  in  various  parts,  that 
when  the  water  is  dammed  up  by  the  head  below,  the 
natural  outline  formed  by  the  banks  already  existing,  is 
sufficiently  varied  to  produce  a  pleasing  effect  without  much 
further  preparatory  labor.  This,  when  it  occurs,  is  exceed- 
mgly  fortunate  ;  but  the  examples  are  so  unfrequent,  that 
we  must  here  make  our  suggestions  upon  a  different  sup- 
position. 

When,  therefore,  it  is  found  that  the  form  of  the  intended 
lake  would  not  be  such  as  is  desirable,  it  must  be  made  so 
by  digging.      In  order  to  do  this  with  any  exactness  the 

23 


S54  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

improver  should  take  his  stand  at  that  part  cf  the  g.ound 
where  the  dam  or  head  is  to  be  formed,  and  raising  his 
levelhng  instrument  to  the  exact  height  to  which  the 
intended  lake  will  rise,  sweep  round  with  his  eye  upon  the 
surrounding  sides  of  the  valley,  and  indicate  by  placing 
marks  there,  the  precise  line  to  which  the  water  will  reach. 
This  can  easily  be  done  throughout  the  whole  circumference 
by  a  few  changes  of  position. 

When  the  outline  is  ascertained  in  this  way,  and  marked 
out,  the  improver  can,  with  the  occasional  aid  of  the  leveller, 
easily  determine  where  and  how  he  can  make  alterations 
and  improvements.  He  will  then  excavate  along  the  new 
margin,  until  he  makes  the  water  line  (as  shown  by  the 
instrument)  penetrate  to  all  the  various  bays,  inlets,  and 
curves  of  the  proposed  lake.  In  making  these  irregular 
variations,  sometimes  bold  and  striking,  at  others  fainter 
and  less  perceptible,  he  can  be  guided,  as  we  have  already 
suggested,  by  no  fixed  rules,  but  such  as  he  may  deduce 
from  the  operations  of  nature  on  the  same  materials,  or  by 
imbuing  his  mind  with  the  beauty  of  forms  in  graceful  and 
refined  art.  In  highly  polished  scenery,  elegant  curves  and 
graceful  sweeps  should  enter  into  the  composition  of  the 
outline  ;  but  in  wilder  or  more  picturesque  situations,  more 
irregular  and  abrupt  variations  will  be  found  most  suitable 
and  appropriate. 

The  intended  water  outline  once  fully  traced  and  under- 
stood, the  workmen  can  now  proceed  to  form  the  banks. 
All  this  time  the  improver  will  keep  in  mind  the  supposed 
appearance  of  the  bank  of  a  natural  lake  stripped  of  its 
vegetation,  etc.,  which  will  greatly  assist  him  in  his  progress. 
In  some  places  the  banks  will  rise  but  little  from  the  water 
at  others  one  or  two  feet,  and  at  others  perhaps  three,  four, 


TREATMENT    OF    WATER.  355 

or  six  times  as  much.  This  they  will  do,  not  in  the  same 
manner  in  all  portions  of  the  outline,  sloping  away  with  a 
like  gradual  rise  on  both  sides,  for  this  would  inevitably 
produce  tamencss  and  monotony,  but  in  an  irregular  and 
varied  manner ;  sometimes  falling  back  gradually,  some- 
times starting  up  perpendicularly,  and  again  overhanging 
the  bed  of  the  lake  itself 

All  this  can  be  easily  effected  while  the  excavations  of 
those  portions  of  the  bed  which  require  deepening  are 
going  on.  And  the  better  portions  of  the  soil  obtained 
from  the  latter,  will  serve  to  raise  the  banks  when  they  are 
too  low^ 

It  is  of  but  little  consequence  how  roughly  and 
irregularly  the  projections,  elevations,  etc.,  of  the  banks 
and  outlines  are  at  first  made,  so  that  some  general  form 
and  connexion  is  preserved.  The  danger  lies  on  the  other 
side,  viz.  in  producing  a  whole  too  tame  and  insipid  ;  for 
we  have  found  by  experience,  how  difficult  it  is  to  make 
the  best  workmen  understand  how  to  operate  in  any  othei 
way  than  in  regular  curves  and  straight  lines.  Besides, 
newly  moved  earth,  by  settling  and  the  influence  of  rains, 
etc.,  tends,  for  some  time,  towards  greater  evenness  and 
equality  of  surface. 

JVIr.  Price,  in  his  unrivalled  instructions  for  the  creation 
of  pieces  of  artificial  w^ater,  has  suggested  another 
excellent  method  by  which  the  outlines  and  banks  of  lakes 
may  be  varied.  This  is,  first,  by  cutting  down  the  banks, 
in  some  places  nearest  the  water,  perpendicularly,  and  then 
undermining  them.  This  will  produce  a  gradual  variation 
in  some  parts,  which,  falling  to  pieces,  will  produce  new 
and  irregular  accidental  outlines.  When,  by  the  actior, 
of  rain  and  frost,  added  to  that  of  the  water  itself,  large 


356  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

fragments  of  mould  tumble  from  the  hol/owcd  banks  of 
rivers  or  lakes,  these  fragments,  by  the  accumulation  of 
other  mould,  often  lose  their  rude  and  broken  form,  are 
covered  with  the  freshest  grass,  and  enriched  with  t^ifts  of 
natural  flowers  ;  and  though  detached  from  the  bank,  and 
upon  a  lower  level,  still  appear  connected  wi',h  it,  and  vary 
its  outline  in  the  softest  and  most  pleasing  mannei.  as 
fragments  of  the  same  kind  will  always  be  de  act  ed  ^'"om 
ground  that  is  undermined,  so  by  their  means  the  ^'ime 
effects  may  designedly  be  produced ;  and  they  will  suggest 
numberless  intricacies  and  varieties  of  a  soft  and  pleasing, 
as  well  as  of  a  broken  kind. 

It  will  of  course  be  well  understood  that  we  have  here 
not  supposed  our  proposed  lake  to  be  located  in  a  valley 
that  must  be  filled  to  the  brim,  or  in  a  tame  flat  when  the 
water  would  rise  to  the  same  level  as  the  adjacent  ground. 
In  such  situations  there  could  be  but  little  room  for  the 
display  of  a  high  degree  of  picturesque  beauty.  On  the 
contrary,  when  the  surrounding  ground  in  many  places 
rises  gradually,  or  is  naturally  higher  than  the  proposed 
level  of  the  water,  there  is  room  for  all  the  variety  of  banks 
of  various  heights,  form,  and  outline,  which  so  spring  out 
of  the  neighboring  undulations  and  eminences,  and  con- 
nect themselves  with  them,  as  to  appear  perfectly  natural 
and  in  proper  keeping. 

In  arranging  these  outlines  and  banks,  we  should  studv 
the  effect  at  the  points  from  which  they  will  generally  be 
viewed.  Some  pieces  of  water  in  valleys,  are  looked 
down  upon  from  other  and  higher  parts  of  the  demesne ; 
others  (and  this  is  most  generally  the  case)  are  only  seen 
from  the  adjoining  walk,  at  some  point  or  points  where  the 
atter  approaches  the  lake.     They  are  most  generally  seen 


TREATMENT    O?    WATER.  S57 

rjom  one,  and  s»,ldom  from  more  than  two  sides.  When  a 
lake  is  viewed  from  above,  its  contour  should  be  studied 
as  a  whole  ;  but  when  it  is  only  seen  from  one  or  more 
sides  or  points,  the  beauty  of  the  co^lp  d'csil  from  those 
positions  can  often  be  greatly  increased  by  some  triili::/^^' 
alterations  in  arrangement.  A  piece  of  water  which  ii> 
Umg  and  comparatively  narrow,  appears  extremely  different 
in  opposite  points  of  view ;  if  seen  lengthwise  from  either 
extremity,  its  apparent  breadth  and  extent  is  much 
increased  ;  while,  if  the  spectator  be  placed  on  one  side 
and  look  across,  it  will  seem  narrow  and  insignificant. 
Now,  although  the  form  of  an  artificial  lake  of  moderate 
size  should  never  be  much  less  in  breadth  than  in  length, 
yet  the  contrary  is  sometimes  unavoidably  the  case  ;  and 
being  so,  we  should  by  all  means  avail  ourselves  of  those 
well  known  laws  in  perspective,  which  will  place  them  in 
the  best  possible  position,  relative  to  the  spectator. 

If  the  improver  desire  to  render  his  banks  still  more 
picturesque,  resembling  the  choicest  mor^eaux  of  natural 
banks,  he  should  go  a  step  further  in  arranging  his  materials 
before  he  introduces  the  water,  or  clothes  the  margin  with 
vegetation.  In  analysing  the  finest  poitions  of  natural 
banks,  it  will  be  observed  that  their  peculiar  characteristics 
often  depend  on  other  objects  besides  the  mere  ground  of 
the  surrounding  banks,  and  the  trees  and  verdure  with 
which  they  are  clothed.  These  are,  rocks  of  various  size, 
forms,  and  colors,  often  projecting  out  of  or  holding  up  the 
bank  in  various  places  ;  stones  sometimes  imbedded  in  the 
soil,  sometimes  lying  loosely  along  the  shore  ;  and  lastly, 
old  stumps  of  trees  with  gnarled  roots,  whose  decaying  hues 
are  often  extremely  mellow  and  agreeable  to  the  eye.  All 
these  have  much  to  do  with  the  expression  of  a  truly  pic- 


S58  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

turesque  bank,  and  cannot  be  excluded  or  taken  away  ^ro.n 
it  without  detracting  largely  from  its  character.  'I'iieit  !« 
no  reason,  therefore,  in  an  imitation  of  nature,  why  we 
should  not  make  use  of  all  her  materials  to  produce  a  similar 
effect ;  and  although  in  the  raw  and  rude  state  of  the  banks 
at  first,  they  may  have  a  singular  and  rather  outrS  aspect, 
stuck  round  and  decorated  here  and  there  with  large  rocks, 
smaller  stones,  and  old  stumps  of  trees  ;  yet  it  must  be 
remembered  that  this  is  only  the  chaotic  state,  from  which 
the  new  creation  is  to  emerge  more  perfectly  formed  and 
completed ;  and  also  that  the  appearance  of  these  rocks 
and  stumps,  when  covered  with  mosses,  and  partially 
overgrown  with  a  profusion  of  luxuriant  vegetation  and 
climbing  plants,  will  be  as  beautifully  picturesque  after  a 
little  time  has  elapsed,  as  it  is  now  uncouth  and  uninviting. 

Islands  generally  contribute  greatly  to  the  beauty  of  a 
piece  of  water.  They  serve,  still  further,  to  increase  the 
variety  of  outline,  and  to  break  up  the  wide  expanse  of 
liquid  into  secondary  portions,  without  injuring  the  effect 
of  the  whole.  The  striking  contrast,  too,  between  their 
verdure,  the  color  of  their  margins,  composed  of  variously 
tinted  soils  and  stones,  and  the  still,  smooth  water  around 
them, — softened  and  blended  as  this  contrast  is,  by  their 
shadows  reflected  back  from  the  limpid  element,  gives 
additional  richness  to  the  picture. 

The  distribution  of  islands  in  a  lake  or  pond  requiics 
some  judgment.  They  will  always  appear  most  natural 
when  sufficiently  near  the  shore,  on  either  side,  to  maintain 
in  appearance  some  connexion  with  it.  Although  islands 
do  sometimes  occur  near  the  middle  of  natural  lakes,  yet 
the  effect  is  by  no  means  good,  as  it  not  only  breaks  and 
distracts  the  effects  of  the  whole  expanse  by  dividing  it  into 


TREATMENT    OF     WATER.  359 

two  distinct  parts,  but  it  always  indicates  a  shallowness  or 
^AHiit  of  depth  where  the  water  should  be  deepest. 

There  are  two  situations  where  it  is  universally  admitted 
that  islands  may  be  happily  introduced.     These  are,  at  the 
inlet  and  the  exit  of  the  body  of  water.     In  many  cases 
where  the  stream  which  supplies  the  lake  is  not  remark- 
able for  size,  and  will  add  nothing  to  the  appearance  of  the 
whole  view  from  the  usual  points  of  sight,  it  may  be  con- 
cealed by  an  island  or  small  group  of  islands,  placed  at 
some  little  distance  in  front  of  it.     The  head  or  dam  of  a 
lake,  too,  is  often  necessarily  so  formal  and  abrupt,  that  it 
is  difficult  to  make  it  appear  natural  and  in  good  keeping 
with  the  rest  of  the  margin.     The  introduction  of  an  island 
or  two,  placed  near  the  main  shore,  on  either  side,  and 
projecting  as  far  as  possible  before  the  dam,  will  greatly 
diminish  this  disagreeable  formality,  particularly  if  well 
clothed  with  a  rich  tuft  of  shrubs  and  overhanging  bushes. 
Except    in    these   two     instances,    islands    should   be 
generally  placed  opposite  the  salient  points  of  the  banks, 
or  near  those  places  where  small  breaks  or  promontories 
run   out  into    the   water.     In   such   situations,  they  will 
increase    the    irregularity     of     the    outline,    and   lend   it 
additional  spirit  and  animation.     Should  they,  on  the  other 
hand,  be  seated  in  or  near  the  marginal  curve  and  indenta- 
tions, they  will  only  serve  to  clog  up  these  recesses  ;  and 
«vhile  their  own  figures  are  lost  in  these  little  bays  where 
tAey  are  hidden,  by  lessening  the  already  existing  irre- 
gularities, they  will   render  the  whole  outline  tame  and 
ppirit'ess. 

On  one  or  two  of  these  small  islands,  little  rustic 
hibitP.tLons,  if  it  coincide  with  the  taste  of  the  proprietor, 
may  be  made  for  different  aquatic  birds  or  water  fowl. 


3G0  LANDSCAPE    GARDEMNG. 

which  will  much  enliven  the  scene  by  their  fine  fi-jniifit 
Among  these  the  swan  is  pre-eminent,  for  its  beauty  aufl 
gracefulness.  Abroad,  they  are  the  almost  constant 
accompaniments  of  water  in  the  ground  of  country 
residences  ;  and  it  cannot  be  denied  that,  floating  about  in 
the  limpid  wave,  with  their  snow-white  plumage  and 
superbly  curved  necks,  they  are  extremely  elegant  objects. 

After  having  arranged  the  banks,  reared  up  the  islands, 
and  completely  formed  the  bed  of  the  proposed  lake,  the 
improver  will  next  proceed,  at  the  proper  period,  to  finish 
his  labors  by  clothing  the  newly  formed  ground,  in  various 
parts,  with  vegetation.  This  may  be  done  immediately,  if 
it  be  desirable ;  or  if  the  season  be  not  favorable,  it  may  be 
deferred  until  the  banks,  and  all  the  newly  formed  earth, 
have  had  time  to  settle  and  assume  their  final  forms,  after 
the  dam  has  been  closed,  and  the  whole  basin  filled  to  its 
intended  height. 

Planting  the  margins  of  pieces  of  water,  if  they  should 
be  of  much  extent,  must  evidently  proceed  upon  the  same 
leading  principle  that  we  have  already  laid  down  for 
ornamental  plantations  in  other  situations.  That  is,  there 
must  be  trees  of  different  heights  and  sizes,  and  underwood 
and  shrubs  of  lower  growth,  disposed  sometimes  singly,  at 
others  in  masses,  groups,  and  thickets  :  in  all  of  which 
forms,  connexion  must  be  preserved,  and  the  whole  must  be 
made  to  blend  well  together,  while  the  different  sizes  and 
contours  will  prevent  any  sameness  and  confusion.  On 
the  retreating  dry  banks,  the  taller  and  more  sturdy 
deciduous  and  evergreen  trees,  as  the  oak,  ash,  etf.,  may 
be  planted,  and  nearer  by,  the  different  willows,  the  elm, 
the  alder,  and  other  trees  that  love  a  moister  situ  a' ion,  ^vill 
thrive   well.     It   is  indispensably   necessary  in   order  to 


TREATMENT    OF    WATER.  S6I 

p  )duce  breadth  of  effect  and  strong  rich  cuiil,rasts,  tliat 
u\  derwood  should  be  employed  to  clothe  many  parts  of  the 
banks.  Without  it,  the  stems  of  trees  will  appear  loose 
and  straggling,  and  the  screen  will  be  so  imperfect  as  to 
allow  a  free  passage  for  the  vision  in  every  direction.  For 
this  purpose,  we  have  in  all  our  woods,  swamps,  and  along 
OUT  brooks,  an  abundance  of  hazels,  hawthorns,  alders, 
sp'ce  woods,  winter  berries,  azaleas,  spireas,  and  a  hundred 
other  fine  low  shrubs,  growing  wild,  which  are  by  nature 
extremely  well  fitted  for  such  sites,  and  will  produce 
immediate  effect  on  being  transplanted.  These  may  be 
intermingled,  here  and  there,  with  the  swamp  button-bush 
[Cephalanthus),  which  bears  handsome  white  globular  heads 
of  blossoms,  and  the  swamp  magnolia,  which  is  highly 
beautiful  and  fragrant.  On  cool  north  banks,  among 
shelves  of  proper  soil  upheld  by  projecting  ledges  of  rock, 
our  native  Kalmias  and  Rhododendrons,  the  common  and 
mountain  laurels,  may  be  made  to  flourish.  The  Virginia 
Creeper,  and  other  beautiful  wild  vines,  may  be  planted  at 
the  roots  of  some  of  the  trees  to  clamber  up  their  stems, 
and  the  wild  Clematis  so  placed  that  its  luxuriant  festoons 
shall  hang  gracefully  from  the  projecting  boughs  of  some  of 
the  overarching  trees.  Along  the  lower  banks  and  closer 
margins,  the  growth  of  smaller  plants  will  be  encouraged, 
and  various  kinds  of  wild  ferns  may  be  so  planted  as 
partially  to  conceal,  overrun,  and  hide  the  rocks  and 
stumps  of  trees,  while  trailing  plants,  as  the  periwinkle  and 
moneywort  [Lysamachia  nummularia),  will  still  further 
increase  the  intricacy  and  richness  of  such  portions.  In 
this  way,  the  borders  of  the  lake  will  resemble  the  finest 
portions  of  the  banks  of  picturesque  and  beautiful  natural 
dells  and  pieces  of  water,  and  the  effect  of  the  whole  when 


3G2  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

ilit.e  has  given  it  tiie  benefit  of  its  softening  touches,  if  ;  • 
has  been  thus  properly  executed,  will  not  be  much  infer  id- 
to  tliose  matchless  bits  of  fine  landscape.  A  more  strikmg 
and  artistical  effect  will  be  produced  by  substituting  for 
native  trees  and  shrubs,  common  on  the  banks  of  streams 
and  lakes  in  the  country,  only  rare  foreign  shrubs,  vines, 
and  aquatic  plants  of  hardy  growth,  suitable  for  such 
situations.  While  these  are  arranged  in  the  same  manner 
as  the  former,  from  their  comparative  novelty,  especially 
in  such  sites,  they  will  at  once  convey  the  idea  of  refined 
and  elegant  art. 

If  any  person  will  take  the  trouble  to  compare  a  piece  of 
water  so  formed,  when  complete,  with  the  square  or  circular 
sheets  or  ponds  now  in  vogue  among  us,  he  must  indeed  be 
little  gifted  with  an  appreciation  of  the  beautiful,  if  he  do 
not  at  once  perceive  the  surpassing  merit  of  the  natural 
style.  In  the  old  method,  the  banks,  level,  or  rising  on  all 
sides,  without  any  or  but  few  surrounding  trees,  carefully 
gravelled  along  the  edge  of  the  water,  or  what  is  still  worse, 
walled  up,  slope  away  in  a  tame,  dull,  uninteresting  grass 
field.  In  the  natural  method,  the  outline  is  varied,  some- 
times receding  from  the  eye,  at  others  stealing  out,  and 
inviting  the  gaze — the  banks  here  slope  off  gently  with  a 
gravelly  beach,  and  there  rise  abruptly  in  difTerent  heights, 
abounding  with  hollows,  projections,  and  eminences,  show- 
ing various  colored  locks  and  soils,  intermingled  with  a 
luxuriant  vegetation  of  all  sizes  and  forms,  corresponding  to 
the  different  situations.  Instead  of  allowing  the  sun  to 
pour  down  in  one  blaze  of  light,  without  any  objects  to 
soften  it  with  their  shade,  the  thick  overhanging  groups  and 
masses  of  trees  cast,  here  and  there,  deep  cool  shadows. 
Stealing  through  the  leaves  and  branches,  the  sun-beams 


TREATMENT    OF    WATER.  3G3 

'{uiver  and  play  upon  the  surface  of  the  flood,  and  are 
reflected  back  in  dancing  Hght,  while  their  full  glow  upon 
the  broader  and  more  open  portions  of  the  lake  is  relieved, 
and  brought  into  harmony  by  the  cooler  and  softer  tints 
mirrored  in  the  water  from  the  surrounding  hues  and  tints 
of  banks,  rocks,  and  vegetation. 

Natural  brooks  and  rivulets  may  often  be  improved 
greatly  by  a  few  trifling  alterations  and  additions,  when 
they  chance  to  come  within  the  bounds  of  a  country  resi- 
dence. Occasionally,  they  may  be  diverted  from  their 
original  beds  when  they  run  through  distant  and  unfre- 
quented parts  of  the  demesne,  and  brought  through  nearer 
portions  of  the  pleasure  grounds  or  lawn.  This,  however, 
can  only  be  done  with  propriety  when  there  is  a  natural 
indication  in  the  grounds  through  which  it  is  proposed  to 
divert  it — as  a  succession  of  hollows,  etc.,  to  form  the 
future  channel.  Sometimes,  a  brisk  little  brook  can  be 
divided  into  smaller  ones  for  some  distance,  again  uniting 
at  a  point  below,  creating  additional  diversity  by  its  vary- 
ing form.* 

Brooks,  rivulets,  and  even  rills  may  frequently  be  greatly 
improved  by  altering  the  form  of  their  beds  in  various 
places.  Often  by  merely  removing  a  few  trifling  obstruc- 
tions, loose  stones,  branches,  etc.,  or  hollowing  away  the 

*  The  Abbe  Delille  has  given  us  a  fine  image  of  a  brook  thus  divided,  in 
the  following  lines : — 

"  Plus  loin,  il  se  separe  en  deux  ruisseaux  agiles. 
Qui,  se  suivant  I'un  I'autre  avec  rapidite, 
Disputent  do  vitesse  et  de  limpidite  ; 
Puis,  rejoignant  tous  deux  le  lit  qui  les  rassemble, 
Murmurent  enchantes  de  voyager  ensemble. 
Ainsi,  toujours  errant  de  detour  en  detour, 
Muet,  bruyant,  paisible,  inquiet  tour  a  tour, 
Sous  mille  aspects  divers  son  cours  se  renouvelle." 


3R4  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

adjoining  bank  for  a  short  distance,  fine  little  expanses  or 
pools  of  still  water  may  be  formed,  which  are  happily  con- 
trasted with  the  more  rugged  course  of  the  rest  of  the 
stream.  Such  improvements  of  these  minor  water  courses 
are  much  preferable  to  widening  them  into  flat,  insipid, 
tame  canals  or  rivers,  which,  though  they  present  greater 
surface  to  the  eye,  are  a  thousand  times  inferior  in  the 
impetuosity  of  motion,  and  musical,  "  babbling  sound,"  so 
delightful  in  rapid  brooks  and  rivulets.* 

Cascades  and  water-falls  are  the  most  charming  features 
of  natural  brooks  and  rivulets.  Whatever  may  be  their 
size  they  are  always  greatly  admired,  and  in  no  way  is  the 
pecuUar  stillness  of  the  air,  peculiar  to  the  country,  more 
pleasingly  broken,  than  by  the  melody  of  falling  water. 
Even  the  gurgling  and  mellow  sound  of  a  small  rill,  leaping 
over  a  few  fantastic  stones,  has  a  kind  of  lulling  fascinaiicn 
for  the  ear,  and  when  this  sound  can  be  brought  so  neai  as 
to  be  distinctly  heard  at  the  residence  itself,  it  is  peculiarly 
delightful.f  Now  any  one  who  examines  a  small  cascade 
at  all  attentively,  in  a  natural  brook,  will  see  that  it  is  often 
formed  in  the  simplest  manner  by  the  interposition  of  a  few 
large  projecting  stones,  which  partially  dam  up  the  current 
and  prevent  the  ready  flow  of  the  water.  Such  little  cas- 
cades are  easily  imitated,  by  following  exactly  the  same 

*  The  most  successful  improvement  of  a  natural  brook  that  we  have  evei 
witnessed,  has  been  effected  in  the  grounds  of  Henry  Sheldon,  Esq.,  of  Tarry- 
town,  N.  Y.  The  great  variety  and  beauty  displayed  in  about  a  fourth  of  a 
mile  of  the  course  of  this  stream,  its  pretty  cascades,  rustic  bridges,  rockwork, 
etc.,  reflect  the  highest  credit  on  the  taste  of  that  gentleman. 

t  The  fine  stream  which  forms  the  south  boundary  of  Blithewood,  on  the 
Hudson,  the  seat  of  R.  Donaldson,  Esq.,  affords  two  of  the  finest  natural  cata- 
racts that  we  have  seen  in  the  grounds  of  any  private  residence.  Fig.  41  is  a 
view  of  the  larger  cascade  which  falls  about  60  feet  over  a  bold,  rocky  bed. 


TREATMENT    OF    WATER.  365 

course,  and  damming  up  the  little  brook  artificially  ;  stu- 
diously avoiding,  however,  any  formal  and  artificial  dis- 
position of  the  stones  or  rocks  employed. 

Larger  water-falls  and  cascades  cannot  usually  be  made 
without  some  regular  head  or  breastwork,  to  oppose  more 
firmly  the  force  of  the  current.  Such  heads  may  be  formed 
of  stout  plank  and  well  prepared  clay  ;*  or,  which  is  greatly 
preferable,  of  good  masonry  laid  in  water  cement.  After 
a  head  is  thus  formed  it  must  be  concealed  entirely  from 
the  eye  by  covering  it  both  upon  the  top  and  sides  with 
natural  rocks  and  stones  of  various  sizes,  so  ingeniously 
disposed,  as  to  appear  fully  to  account  for,  or  be  the  cause 
of  the  water-fall. 

The  axe  of  the  original  backwoodsman  appears  to  have 
left  such  a  mania  for  clearing  behind  it,  even  in  those 
portions  of  the  Atlantic  states  where  such  labor  should  be 
for  ever  silenced,  that  some  of  our  finest  places  in  the 
country  will  be  found  much  desecrated  and  mutilated  by 
its  careless  and  unpardonable  use  ;  and  not  only  are  fine 
plantations  often  destroyed,  but  the  banks  of  some  of  our 
finest  streams  and  prettiest  rivulets  partially  laid  bare  by 
the  aid  of  this  instrument,  guided  by  some  tasteless  hand. 
Wherever  fine  brooks  or  water  courses  are  thus  mutilated, 
one  of  the  most  necessary  and  obvious  improvements  is  to 
reclothe  them  with  plantations  of  trees  and  underwood. 
In  planting  their  banks  anew,  much  beauty  and  variety 
can  often  be  produced  by  employing  different  growtfis, 
and  arranging  them  as  we  have  directed  for  the  margins 

*  It  is  found  that  strong  loam  or  any  tenacious  earth  well  prepared  by 
puddling  or  beating  in  water  is  equally  impervious  to  water  as  clay ;  and  may 
tlierefore  be  used  for  lining  the  sides  or  dams  of  bodies  of  made  water  wheu 
cich  materials  are  required. 


366  LANDSCAPK  GARDENING. 

of  lakes  and  ponds.  In  some  places  where  easy,  beautifui 
slopes  and  undulations  of  ground  border  the  streams, 
gravel,  soft  turf,  and  a  few  simple  groups  of  trees,  will  be 
the  most  natural  accompaniments  ;  in  others  where  the 
borders  of  the  stream  are  broken  into  rougher,  more 
rocky,  and  precipitous  ridges,  all  the  rich  wildness  and 
intricacy  of  low  shrubs,  ferns,  creeping  and  chmbing 
plants,  may  be  brought  in  to  advantage.  Where  the 
extent  to  be  thus  improved  is  considerable,  the  trouble 
may  be  lessened  by  planting  the  larger  growth,  and  sowing 
the  seeds  of  the  smaller  plants  mingled  together.  Prepare 
the  materials,  and  time  and  nature,  with  but  little  occa- 
sional assistance,  will  mature,  and  soften,  and  blend 
together  the  whole,  in  their  own  matchless  and  inimitable 
manner. 

From  all  that  we  have  suggested  in  these  limited 
remarks,  it  will  be  seen  that  we  would  only  attempt  in  our 
operations  with  water,  the  graceful  or  picturesque  imitations 
of  natural  lakes  or  ponds,  and  brooks,  rivulets,  and  streams. 
Such  are  the  only  forms  in  which  this  unrivalled  element 
can  be  displayed  so  as  to  harmonize  agreeably  with  natural 
and  picturesque  scenery.  In  the  latter,  there  can  be  no 
apology  made  for  the  introduction  of  straight  canals, 
round  or  oblong  pieces  of  water,  and  all  the  regular  forms 
of  the  geometric  mode ;  because  they  would  evidently  be 
in  violent  opposition  to  the  whole  character  and  expres- 
sion of  natural  landscape.  In  architectural,  or  flower 
gardens  (on  which  we  shall  hereafter  have  occasion  to 
offer  some  remarks),  where  a  different  and  highly  artificial 
arrangement  prevails,  all  these  regular  forms,  with  various 
jets,  fountains,  etc.,  may  be  employed  with  good  taste, 
and  wiV  combine  well  with  the  other  accessories  of  such 


TREATMENT    OF    VVATKR.  367 

places.  But  in  the  grounds  of  a  residence  in  the  modern 
style,  nature,  if  possible,  still  more  purified,  as  in  the  great 
chefs-d'oeuvre  of  art,  by  an  ideal  standard,  should  be  the 
great  aim  of  the  Landscape  Gardener.  And  with  watei 
especially,  only  beautiful  when  allowed  to  take  its  own 
flowing  forms  and  graceful  motions,  more  than  wdth  any 
other  of  our  materials,  all  appearance  of  constraint  and 
formality  should  be  avoided.  If  art  be  at  all  manifest,  it 
should  discover  itself  only,  as  in  the  admirably  painted 
landscape,  in  the  reproduction  of  nature  in  her  choicest 
developments.  Indeed,  many  of  the  most  celebrated 
authors  who  have  treated  of  this  subject,  appear  to  agree 
that  the  productions  of  the  artist  in  this  branch  are  most 
perfect  as  they  approach  most  nearly  to  fac-similes  of 
nature  herself:  and  though  art  should  have  formed  the 
whole,  its  employment  must  be  nowhere  discovered  by  the 
spects/^r ;  or  as  Tasso  has  more   elegantly  expressed  the 

"  l'aRTE    CHE    TUTTO    FA,    NULLA    SI    SCOPRE." 


368 


LANDSCAPE    GARDENIN'O 


SECTION   IX. 


LANDSCAPE    OR    RURAL    ARCHITECTURE. 


Difference  between  a  city  and  a  country  house.  The  characteristic  features  of  a  country 
house.  Examination  of  the  leading  principles  in  Rural  Architecture.  The  different 
styles.  The  Grecian  style,  its  merits  and  defects,  and  its  associations.  The  Roman  and 
Italian  styles.  The  Pointed  or  Gothic  style.  The  Tudor  Mansion.  The  English 
Cottage,  or  Rural  Gothic  style.  These  styles  considered  in  relation  to  situation  or 
••cenery.    Individual  tastes.    Entrance  Lodges. 

"  A  house  amid  the  quiet  country's  shades, 
With  length'ning  vistas,  ever  sunny  glades  ; 
Beauty  and  fragrance  clustering  o'er  the  wall, 
A  porch  inviting,  and  an  ample  hall." 

R  C  H  I  T  E  C  T  U  R  i:  , 

j;^^'-^       either  practically  considererl 

. — or  viewed  as  an  art  of  taste, 

,  .     ,  ~>^t^^'*       is  asubiect  so  important  and 

%'S^i^ft^^^^  comprehensive  in  itself,  that 
volumes  would  be  requisite 
to  do  it  justice.  Buildings  of  every  description,  from  the 
humble  cottage  to  the  lofty  temple,  are  objects  of  such 
constant  recurrence  in  every  habitable  part  of  the  globe, 
and  are  so  strikingly  indicative  of  the  intelligence, 
character,  and  taste  of  the  inhabitants,  that  they  possess 
in  themselves  a  great  and  peculiar  interest  for  the  mind. 
To  have  a  "  local  habitation," — a  permanent  dwelling, 
that  we  can  give  the  impress  of  our  own  mind,  and 
identify  with  our  own  existence, — appears  to  be  the 
ardent  wish,  sooner  or  later  felt,  of  every  man  :  excepting 


RUKAL    ARCHITECTUKK.  30'J 

only  those  wandering  sons  of  Ishmael,  who  pitch  their 
tents  with  the  same  indifference,  and  as  Httle  desire  to 
remain  fixed,  in  the  flowery  plains  of  Persia,  as  in  the 
sandy  deserts  of  Zahara  or  Arabia. 

In  a  city  or  town,  or  in  its  immediate  vicinity,  where 
space  is  limited,  where  buildings  stand  crowded  together, 
and  depend  for  their  attractions  entirely  upon  the  style 
and  manner  of  their  construction,  mere  architectural 
eflfect,  after  convenience  and  fitness  are  consulted,  is  of 
course  the  only  point  to  be  kept  in  view.  There,  the 
facade,  which  meets  the  eye  of  the  spectator  from  the 
public  street,  is  eni'iched  and  made  attractive  by  the 
display  of  architectural  style  and  decoration,  commen- 
surate to  the  magnitude  or  importance  of  the  edifice  ;  and 
the  whole,  so  far  as  the  effect  of  the  building  is  concerned, 
comes  directly  within  the  province  of  the  architect  alone. 

With  respect  to  this  class  of  dwellings  we  have  little 
complaint  to  make,  for  many  of  our  town  residences  are 
highly  elegant  and  beautiful.  But  how  shall  we  designate 
that  singular  perversity  of  taste,  or  rather  that  total  want 
of  it,  which  prompts  the  man,  who,  under  the  name  of  s 
villa  residence,  piles  up  in  the  free  open  country,  amid  the 
green  fields,  and  beside  the  wanton  gracefulness  of  luxuriant 
nature,  a  stiff  modern  "  three  story  brick,"  which,  like  a 
well  bred  cockney  with  a  true  horror  of  the  country, 
doggedly  seems  to  refuse  to  enter  into  harmonious  com- 
bination with  any  other  object  in  the  scene,  but  only 
serves  to  call  up  the  exclamation, 

Avaunt,  stiff  pile!  why  didst  thou  stray 
From  blocks  congenial  in  Broadway  I 

Yet  almost  daily  we  see  built  up  in  the  country  huge 

24 


370  LANDSCAPE  GAUDENrNG. 

combinations  of  boards  and  shingles,  without  the  least 
attempt  at  adaptation  to  situation  ;  and  square  masses 
of  brick  start  up  here  and  there,  in  the  verdant  slopes 
of  our  village  suburbs,  appearing  as  if  they  had  been 
transplanted,  by  some  unlucky  incantation,  from  the  close- 
packed  neighborhood  of  city  residence,  and  left  acciden- 
tally in  the  country,  or,  as  Sir  Walter  Scott  has  re- 
marked, "had  strayed  out  to  the  country  for  an  airing." 

What  then  are  the  proper  characteristics  of  a  rural 
residence  ?  The  answer  to  this,  in  a  few  words,  is,  such 
a  dwelling,  as  from  its  various  accommodations,  not  only 
gives  ample  space  for  all  the  comforts  and  conveniences 
of  a  country  life,  but  by  its  varied  and  picturesque  form 
and  outline,  its  porches,  verandas,  etc.,  also  appears  to 
have  some  reasonable  connexion,  or  be  in  perfect  keeping, 
with  surrounding  nature.  Architectural  beauty  must  be 
considered  conjointly  with  the  beauty  of  the  landscape  or 
situation.  Buildings  of  almost  every  description,  and 
particularly  those  for  the  habitation  of  man,  will  be 
considered  by  the  mind  of  taste,  not  only  as  architectural 
objects  of  greater  or  less  merit,  but  as  component  parts 
of  the  general  scene ;  united  with  the  surrounding  lawn, 
embosomed  in  tufts  of  trees  and  shrubs,  if  properly 
designed  and  constructed,  they  will  even  serve  to  impress 
a  character  upon  the  surrounding  landscape.  Their  effect 
will  frequently  be  good  or  bad,  not  merely  as  they  are 
excellent  or  indifferent  examples  of  a  certain  style  of 
building,  but  as  they  are  happily  or  unhappily  combined 
with  the  adjacent  scenery.  The  intelligent  observer  will 
readily  appreciate  the  truth  of  this,  and  acknowledge  the 
value,  as  well  as  necessity,  of  something  besides  archi- 
tectural  knowledge.     An<:    he   will   perceive   how  much 


RURAI,    ARCHITECTURE.  371 

more  likely  to  be  successful  are  the  efforts  of  him,  who,  in 
composing  and  constructing  a  rural  residence,  calls  in  to 
the  aid  of  architecture,  the  genius  of  the  landscape ; — 
whose  mind  is  imbued  with  a  taste  for  beautiful  scenery, 
and  who  so  elegantly  and  ingeniously  engrafts  art  upon 
nature,  as  to  heighten  her  beauties ;  while  by  the 
harmonious  union  he  throws  a  borrowed  charm  around 
his  own  creation. 

The  English,  above  all  other  people,  are  celebrated  for 
their  skill  in  what  we  consider  rural  adaptation.  Their 
residences  seem  to  be  a  part  of  the  scenes  where  they  are 
situated  ;  for  their  exquisite  taste  and  nice  perception  of 
the  beauties  of  Landscape  Gardening  and  rural  scenery, 
lead  them  to  erect  those  picturesque  edifices,  which,  by 
their  varied  outlines,  seem  in  exquisite  keeping  with 
nature ;  while  by  the  numberless  climbing  plants,  shrubs, 
and  fine  ornamental  trees  with  which  they  surround  them, 
they  form  beautiful  pictures  of  rural  beauty.  Even  the 
various  offices  connected  with  the  dwelling,  partially 
concealed  by  groups  of  foliage,  and  contributing  to  the 
expression  of  domestic  comfort,  while  they  extend  out, 
and  give  importance  to  the  main  edifice,  also  serve  to 
connect  it,  in  a  less  abrupt  manner,  with  the  grounds. 

The  leading  principles  which  should  be  our  guide  in 
Landscape  or  Rural  Architecture,  have  been  condensed 
by  an  able  writer  in  the  following  heads.  "1st,  As  a 
useful  art,  in  fitness  for  the  end  in  view  :  2d,  as  an 
art  of  design  in  expression  of  purpose  :  3d,  as  an  art 
of   taste,  in    expression    of  some    particular  architec- 

TURA^    STYLE." 

The  niost  enduring  and  permanent  source  of  satisfaction 
in  house?  is,  undoubtedly,  utility.     In  a  country  residence, 


372  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

therefore,  of  whatever  character,  the  comfort  and  con- 
venience of  the  various  members  of  the  family  being  the 
first  and  most  important  consideration,  the  quaHty  of 
fitness  is  universally  appreciated  and  placed  in  the  first 
rank.  In  many  of  those  articles  of  furniture  or  apparel 
which  luxury  or  fashion  has  brought  into  use,  fitness  or 
convenience  often  gives  way  to  beauty  of  form  or  texture  : 
but  in  a  habitation  intended  to  shelter  us  from  the  heat 
and  cold,  as  well  as  to  give  us  an  opportunity  to  dispense 
the  elegant  hospitalities  of  refined  life — the  neglect  of  the 
various  indispensable  conveniences  and  comforts  which 
an  advanced  state  of  civilization  requires,  would  be  but 
poorly  compensated  for  by  a  fanciful  exterior  or  a  highly 
ornate  style  of  building.  Further  than  this,  fitness  will 
extend  to  the  choice  of  situation  ;  selecting  a  sheltered 
site,  neither  too  high,  as  upon  the  exposed  summit  of  bleak 
hills,  nor  too  low,  as  in  the  lowest  bottoms  of  damp 
valleys  ;  but  preferring  those  middle  grounds  which,  while 
they  aflbrd  a  free  circulation  of  air,  and  a  fine  prospect, 
are  not  detrimental  to  the  health  or  enjoyment  of  the 
occupants.  A  proper  exposure  is  another  subject,  worthy 
of  the  attention  of  either  the  architect  or  proprietor,  as 
there  are  stormy  and  pleasant  aspects  or  exposures  in  all 
climates. 

However  much  the  principle  o^  fitness  may  be  appre- 
ciated and  acted  upon  in  the  United  States,  we  have 
certainly  great  need  of  apology  for  the  flagrant  and  almost 
constant  violation  of  the  second  principle,  viz.  the  exp^e'n- 
sion  of  purpose.  By  the  expression  of  purpose  in 
buildings,  is  meant  that  architectural  character,  cr 
ensemble,  which  distinctly  points  out  the  particdar  use  or 
destination    for  which    the    edifice    is   intended.       In   a 


RURAL    ARCHITECTURE.  373 

dwelling-house,  the  expression  of  purpose  is  conveyed  by 
the  chimney-tops,  the  porch  or  veranda,  and  those 
various  appendages  indicative  of  domestic  enjoyment, 
which  are  needless,  and  therefore  misplaced,  in  a  public 
building.  In  a  church,  the  spire  or  the  dome,  when 
present,  at  once  stamps  the  building  with  the  expression 
of  purpose  ;  and  the  few  openings  and  plain  exterior,  with 
the  absence  of  chimneys,  are  the  suitable  and  easily 
recognised  characteristics  of  the  barn.  Were  any  one  to 
commit  so  violent  an  outrage  upon  the  principle  of  the 
expression  of  purpose  as  to  surmount  his  barns  with  the 
tall  church  spire,  our  feelings  would  at  once  cry  out 
against  the  want  of  propriety.  Yet  how  often  do  we 
meet  in  the  northern  states,  with  stables  built  after  the 
models  of  Greek  temples,  and  barns  with  elegant  Venetian 
shutters — to  sav  nothing  of  mansions  with  none  but 
concealed  chi.-nne)  tops,  and  without  perches  or  append- 
ages of  any  kind,  to  give  the  least  hint  to  the  mind  of  the 
doubting  spectator,  whether  the  edifice  is  a  chapel,  a  bank, 
a  hospital,  or  the  private  dwelling  of  a  man  oi^  wealth  and 
opulence ! 

"  The  expression  of  the  purpose  for  which  every 
building  is  erected,"  says  the  writer  before  quoted,  "is 
the  first  and  most  essential  beauty,  and  should  be  obvious 
from  its  architecture,  although  independent  of  any 
particular  style  ;  in  the  same  manner  as  the  reasons  for 
things  are  altogether  independent  of  the  language  m 
which  they  are  conveyed.  As  in  literary  composition,  no 
beauty  of  language  can  ever  compensate  for  poverty  of 
sense,  so  in  architectural  composition,  no  beauty  of  style 
can  ever  compensate  for  want  of  expression  of  purpose. 
Applying   this   excellent   principle   to   our   own   country 


374  LANDSCAPE    GAKDEMNG. 

houses  and  fheir  offices  or  out-buildings,  we  think  every 
reasonable  person  will,  at  the  first  glance,  see  how 
lamentably  deficient  are  many  of  the  productions  of  our 
architects  and  builders,  in  one  of  the  leading  principles  of 
the  art.  The  most  common  form  for  an  American  countr} 
villa  is  the  pseudo-Greek  Temple  ;  that  is,  a  rectangular 
oblong  building,  with  the  chimney-tops  concealed,  if 
possible,  and  instead  of  a  pretty  and  comfortable  porch, 
veranda,  or  piazza,  four,  six,  or  eight  lofty  wooden 
colunuis  are  seen  supporting  a  portico,  so  high  as  neither 
to  aflford  an  agreeable  promenade,  nor  a  sufficient  shelter 
from  the  sun  and  rain. 

There  are  two  features,  which  it  is  now  generally 
admitted  contribute  strongly  to  the  expression  of  purpose 
in  a  dwelling-house,  and  especially  in  a  country  residence. 
These  are  the  chimney-tops  and  the  entrance  porch. 
Chimney-tops,  with  us,  are  generally  square  masses  of 
brick,  rising  a^bove  the  roof,  and  presenting  certainly  no 
very  elegant  appearance,  which  may  perhaps  serve  as  the 
apology  of  those  who  studiously  conceal  them.  But  in  a 
climate  where  fires  are  requisite  during  a  large  portion  ol 
the  year,  chimney-tops  are  expressive  of  a  certain  comfort 
resulting  from  the  use  of  them,  which  characterizes  a 
building  intended  for  a  dwelling  in  that  climate.  Chimney- 
tops  being  never,  or  rarely,  placed  on  those  buildings 
intended  for  the  inferior  animals,  are  also  undoubtedly 
strongly  indicative  of  human  habitations.  Instead,  there- 
fore, of  hiding  or  concealing  them,  they  should  be  in  all 
dwellings  not  only  boldly  avowed,  but  rendered  ornamental; 
for  whatever  is  a  characteristic  and  necessary  feature, 
should  undoubtedly,  if  possible,  be  rendered  elegant,  or  at 
least  prevented  from  being  ugly. 


RUllAL    ARCHITECTURE.  375 

Much  of  the  picturesque  effect  of  the  old  English  and 
Italian  houses,  undoubtedly  arises  from  the  handsome  and 
curious  stacks  of  chimneys  which  spring  out  of  their  roofs. 
These,  while  they  break  and  diversify  the  sky  outline  of  the 
building,  enrich  and  give  variety  to  its  most  bare  and 
unornamented  part.  Examples  are  not  wanting,  in  all  the 
different  styles  of  architecture,  of  handsome  and  character 
is'.ic  chirAneys,  which  may  be  adopted  in  any  of  our 
dwellings  of  a  similar  style.  The  Gothic,  or  old  English 
chimney,  with  octagonal  or  cylindrical  flues  or  shafts  united 
in  clusters,  is  made  in  a  great  variety  of  forms,  either  of 
bricks  or  artificial  stone.  The  former  materials,  moulded 
in  the  required  shape,  are  highly  taxed  in  England,  while 
they  may  be  very  cheaply  made  here. 

A  Porch  strengthens  or  conveys  expression  of  purpose, 
because,  instead  of  leaving  the  entrance  door  bare,  as  in 
manufactories  and  buildings  of  an  inferior  description,  it 
serves  both  as  a  note  of  preparation,  and  an  effectual 
shelter  and  protection  to  the  entrance.  Besides  this,  it 
gives  a  dignity  and  importance  to  that  entrance,  pointing 
it  out  to  the  stranger  as  the  place  of  approach.  A  fine 
country  house,  without  a  porch  or  covered  shelter  to  the 
doorway  of  some  description,  is  therefore  as  incomplete, 
to  the  correct  eye,  as  a  well  printed  book  without  a  title 
page,  leaving  the  stranger  to  plunge  at  once  in  medias  res, 
without  the  friendly  preparation  of  a  single  word  of  intro- 
duction. Porches  are  susceptible  of  every  variety  of  form 
:,nd  decoration,  from  the  embattled  and  buttressed  portal 
of  the  Gothic  casile,  to  the  latticed  arbor  porch  of  the 
cottage,  around  which  the  festoons  of  luxuriant  climbing 
plants  cluster,  giving  an  effect  not  less  beautiful  than  t.-.c 
richly  carved  capitals  of  the  classic  portico. 


376  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

In  this  country  no  architectural  feature  is  more  plaialy 
expressive  of  purpose  in  our  dwelhng-houses  than  the 
veranda,  or  piazza.  The  unclouded  splendor  and  fierce 
heat  of  our  summer  sun,  render  this  very  general  appendage 
a  source  of  real  comfort  and  enjoyment ;  and  the  long 
veranda  round  many  of  our  country  residences  siand* 
instead  of  the  paved  terraces  of  the  English  mansion'  as 
the  place  for  promenade  ;  while  during  the  warmer  portions 
of  the  season,  half  of  the  days  or  evenings  are  there  passed 
in  the  enjoyment  of  the  cool  breezes,  secure  under  low 
roofs  supported  by  the  open  colonnade,  from  the  solar  rays, 
or  the  dews  of  night.  The  obvious  utility  of  the  veranda 
in  this  climate  (especially  in  the  middle  and  southern  states) 
will,  therefore,  excuse  its  adoption  into  any  style  of  archi- 
tecture that  may  be  selected  for  our  domestic  uses,  although 
abroad,  buildings  in  the  style  in  question,  as  the  Gothic,  for 
example,  are  not  usually  accompanied  by  such  an  append- 
age. An  artist  of  the  least  taste  or  invention  will  easily 
compose  an  addition  of  this  kind,  that  will  be  in  good 
keeping  with  the  rest  of  the  edifice. 

These  various  features,  or  parts  of  the  building,  with 
many  others  which  convey  expression  of  purpose  in 
domestic  architecture,  because  they  recall  to  the  mind  the 
different  uses  to  which  they  are  applied,  and  the  several 
enjoyments  connected  with  them,  also  contribute  greatly 
to  the  interest  of  the  building  itself,  and  heighten  its  good 
effect  as  part  of  a  harmonious  whole,  in  the  landscape. 
The  various  projections  and  irregularities,  caused  by 
verandas,  porticoes,  etc.,  serve  to  connect  the  otherwise 
rquaie  macses  ^ f  building,  by  grv^ual  transiiion  with  the 
1^  ound  ab^ut  it. 

The  reader,  who  thus  rccognis:.-:  k-i'.vxz^  :,c  cxprecaivc 


RURAL    ARCHITKCTURi:.  377 

of  Durpose  in  a  dwelling  intended  for  the  habitation  of  man, 
've  think,  can  be  at  no  great  loss  to  understand  what  would 
le  rharacteristic  in  out-buildings  or  offices,  farm-houses, 
;odges,  stables,  and  the  like,  which  are  necessary  structures 
on  a  villa  or  mansion  residence  of  much  size  or  importance. 
A  proper  regard  to  the  expression  of  use  or  purpose,  without 
mterfering  with  the  beauty  of  style,  will  confer  at  all  times 
another,  viz.  the  beauty  of  truth,  without  which  no  building 
can  be  completely  satisfactory  ;  as  deceptions  of  this  kind 
(buildings  appearing  to  be  what  they  are  not)  always  go 
far  towards  destroying  in  the  mind  those  pleasurable  emo- 
tions felt  on  viewing  any  correct  work  of  art,  however 
simple  in  character  or  design. 

We  have  now  to  consider  rural  architecture  under  the 
guidance  of  the  third  leading  principle,  as  an  art  of  taste. 
The  expression  of  architectural  style  in  buildings  is  un- 
doubtedly a  matter  of  the  first  importance,  and  proper  care 
being  taken  not  to  violate  fitness  and  expression  of  purpose, 
it  may  be  considered  as  appealing  most  powerfully,  at  once, 
to  the  mind  of  almost  every  person.  Indeed,  with  many, 
it  is  the  only  species  of  beauty  which  they  perceive  in 
buildings,  and  to  it  both  convenience  and  the  expression 
of  purpose  are  often  ignorantly  sacrificed. 

A  marked  style  of  architecture  appears  to  us  to  have 
claims  for  our  admiration  or  preference  for  rural  residences, 
for  several  reasons.  As  it  is  intrinsically  beautiful  in  itself, 
as  it  interests  us  by  means  of  the  associations  connected 
with  it ;  as  it  is  fitted  to  the  wants  and  comforts  of  country 
life ;  and  as  it  is  adapted  to,  or  harmonizes  with,  the 
locality  or  scenery  where  it  is  located. 

The  harmonious  union  of  buildings  and  scenery,  is  a 
point  of  taste  that  appears  to   be  but  little  understood  io 


378  LANCSCAPE  GARDENING 

any  country  ;  and  mainly,  we  believe,  because  the  architeci 
and  the  landscape  painter  are  seldom  combined  in  the  safe 
person,  or  are  seldom  consulted  together.  It  is  for  th  s 
reason  that  we  so  rarely  see  a  country  residence,  or  cottage 
and  its  grounds,  making  such  a  composition  as  a  landscape 
painter  would  choose  for  his  pencil.  But  it  does  not  seem 
difficult,  with  a  slight  recurrence  to  the  leading  principle 
of  unity  of  expression,  to  suggest  a  mode  of  immediately 
deciding  which  style  of  building  is  best  adapted  to  harmo- 
nize with  a  certain  kind  of  scenery. 

The  reader  is,  we  trust,  already  familiar  with  our 
division  of  landscapes  into  two  natural  classes, — the 
Beautiful  and  the  Picturesque, — and  the  two  accordant 
systems  of  improvement  in  Landscape  Gardening  which 
we  have  based  upon  these  distinct  characters.  Now,  in 
order  to  render  our  buildings  perfectly  harmonious,  we 
conceive  it  only  to  be  necessary  to  arrange  (as  we  may 
very  properly  do)  all  the  styles  of  domestic  architecture  ir. 
corresponding  divisions. 

Some  ingenious  writer  has  already  developed  this  idea, 
and,  following  a  hint  taken  from  the  two  leading  schools 
of  literature  and  art,  has  divided  all  architecture  into  the 
Classical  and  the  Romantic  schools  of  desiarn.  The 
Classical  comprises  the  Grecian  style,  and  all  its  near  and 
direct  offspring,  as  the  Roman  and  Italian  modes ;  the 
Romantic  school,  the  Gothic  style,  with  its  numberless 
variations  of  Tudor,  Elizabethan,  Flemish,  and  old  English 
modes. 

It  is  easy  to  see,  at  a  glance,  how  well  these  divisions 
correspond  with  our  Beautiful  and  Picturesque  phases  of 
Landscape  Gardening,  so  that  indeed  we  might  call  tlie 
Grecian  or  Classical  style.  Beautiful,  and  the  Gothic   or 


RURAL    ARCHITECTURE.  379 

r o.Tiaiitic  style,  the  Picturesque  schools  in  architecture 
la  classical  buildings,  as  in  beautiful  landscape,  we  are  led 
lo  admire  simplicity  of  forms  and  outlines,  purity  of  effect, 
and  grace  of  composition.  In  the  Romantic  or  Picturesque 
buildings,  we  are  struck  by  the  irregularity  of  forms  and 
outlines,  variety  of  effect,  and  boldness  of  composition. 
What,  therefore,  can  be  more  evident  in  seeking  tc 
produce  unity  of  effect  than  the  propriety  of  selecting 
some  variations  of  the  classical  style  for  Beautiful 
landscape,  and  some  species  of  romantic  irregular  building 
for  Picturesque  landscape  ? 

In  a  practical  point  of  view,  all  buildings  which  have 
considerable  simplicity  of  outline,  a  certain  complete  and 
graceful  style  of  ornament,  and  a  polished  and  refined  kind 
of  finish,  may  be  considered  as  likely  to  harmonize  best 
with  all  landscape  where  the  expression  is  that  of  simple 
or  graceful  beauty — where  the  lawn  or  surface  is  level  or 
gently  undulating,  the  trees  rich  and  full  in  foliage  and 
form,  and  the  general  character  of  the  scenery  peaceful 
and  beautiful.  Such  are  the  Grecian,  Roman,  Tuscan, 
and  the  chaster  Italian  styles. 

On  the  other  hand,  buildings  of  more  irregular  outline, 
in  which  appear  bolder  or  ruder  ornaments,  and  a  certain 
free  and  more  rustic  air  in  finishing,  are  those  which 
should  be  selected  to  accompany  scenery  of  a  wilder  or 
more  picturesque  character,  abounding  in  striking  varia- 
lions  of  surface,  wood,  and  water.  And  these  are  the 
Castellated,  the  Tudor,  and  the  old  English  in  all  its  forms. 

There  is  still  an  intermediate  kind  of  architecture, 
originally  a  variation  of  the  classical  style,  but  which,  in 
becoming  adapted  to  different  and  more  picturesque 
situations,  has  lost  much  of  its  graceful  character,  and  has 


380  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

become  quite  picturesque  in  its  outlines  and  effects.  Of 
this  kind  are  the  Swiss  and  the  bracketed  cottage,  and  the 
different  highly  irregular  forms  of  the  Italian  villa.  The 
more  simple  and  regular  variations  of  these  modes  of 
building,  may  be  introduced  with  good  effect  in  any  plain 
country ;  while  the  more  irregular  and  artistical  forms  hare 
the  happiest  effect  only  in  more  highly  varied  and  suitable 
localities. 

The  Egyptian,  one  of  the  oldest  architectural  styles, 
characterized  by  its  heavy  colossal  forms,  and  almost  sub- 
lime expression,  is  supposed  to  have  had  its  origin  in  caverns 
hewn  in  the  rocks.  The  Chinese  style,  easily  known  by 
its  waving  lines,  probably  had  its  type  in  the  eastern  tent. 
The  Saracenic,  or  Moorish  style,  rich  in  fanciful  decoration, 
is  striking  and  picturesque  in  its  details,  and  is  worthy  of 
the  attention  of  the  wealthy  amateur. 

Neither  of  these  styles,  however,  is,  or  can  well  be, 
thoroughly  adapted  to  our  domestic  purposes,  as  they  are 
wanting  in  fitness,  and  have  comparatively  few  charms  of 
association  for  residents  of  this  country. 

The  only  styles  at  present  in  common  use  for  domestic 
architecture,  throughout  the  enlightened  portions  of  Europe 
and  America,  are  the  Grecian  and  Gothic  styles,  or  some 
modifications  of  these  two  distinct  kinds  of  building.  These 
modifications,  which  of  themselves  are  now  considered 
styles  by  most  authors,  are,  the  Roman  and  modern  Italian 
styles,  which  hav^e  grown  out  of  Greek  architecture ;  the 
Castellated,  the  Tudor,  the  Elizabethan,  and  the  riira.. 
Gothic  or  old  English  cottage  styles,  all  of  which  are 
variations  of  Gothic  architecture. 

Grecian  or  classic  architecture  was  exhibited  in  its 
purity  in   those  splendid  temples  of  the  golden  days  of 


RURAL    ARCHITECTURE.  381 

Athens,  which  still  remain  in  a  sufficient  degree  of  pre- 
servation to  bear  ample  testimony  to  the  high  state  of 
architectural  art  among  the  Greeks.  The  best  works  of 
that  period  are  always  characterized  by  7inity  and  sim- 
plicity, and  in  them  an  exquisite  proportion  is  united  with 
a  chasteness  of  decoration,  which  stamps  them  perfect 
works  of  art.  Each  of  the  five  orders  was  so  nicely 
determined  by  their  profound  knowledge  of  the  harmony 
of  forms,  and  admirably  executed,  that  all  modern  attempts 
at  improving  them  have  entirely  failed,  for  they  are,  indi- 
vidually, complete  models. 

■ — "  First  unadorned 

And  nobly  phiin,  the  manly  Doric  rose  ; 

The  Ionic  then  with  decent  matron  grace 

Her  airy  pillar  heaved  :  luxuriant  last 

The  rich  Corinthian  spread  her  wanton  wreath." 

A  single  or  double  portico  of  columns  supporting  a  lolty 
pediment,  the  latter  connected  with  the  main  body  of  the 
building,  which  in  most  cases  was  a  simple  parallelogram, 
were  the  characteristic  features  of  the  pure  Grecian  archi- 
tecture. And  this  very  simplicity  of  form,  united  with 
the  chasteness  of  decoration  and  elegance  of  propcn-tion, 
enhanced  greatly  the  beauty  of  the  Grecian  temple  as  a 
whole. 

To  the  scholar  and  the  man  of  refined  and  cultivated 
mind,  the  associations  connected  with  Grecian  architecture 
are  of  the  most  delightful  character.  They  transport  him 
back,  in  imagination,  to  the  choicest  days  of  classic  litera- 
ture and  art,  when  the  disciples  of  the  wisest  and  best  of 
Athens  listened  to  eloquent  discourses  that  were  daily 
delivered  from  her  grove-embowered  porticoes.  When 
lier  temples  were  designed  by  a  Phidias,  and  her  architeo 


382 


LANDSCAPE    GARDENING. 


ture  encouraged  and  patronized  by  a  Pericles  ;  when,  in 
short,  all  the  splendor  of  Pagan  mythology,  and  the  wisdom 
of  Greek  philosophy,  were  combined  to  perfect  the  arts  and 
sciences  of  that  period,  and  the  temples  dedicated  to  the 
Olympian  Jove  or  the  stately  Minerva,  were  redolent  with 
that  beauty,  which  the  Greeks  worshipped,  studied,  and  so 
well  knew  how  to  embody  in  material  forms. 

As  it  is  admitted,  then,  that  Grecian  architecture  is 
intrinsically  beautiful  in  itself,  and  highly  interesting  in 
point  of  associations,  it  may  be  asked  what  are  the 
objections,  if  any,  to  its  common  introduction  into  domes- 
tic Rural  Architecture. 

To  this  we  answer,  that  although  this  form  meagrely 
copied.  Fig.  42,  is  actually  in  more  common  use  than  any 
other  style  in  the  United  States,  it  is  greatly  inferior  to 
the  Gothic  and  its  modifications  in  fitness,  including  under 
that  head  all  the  comforts  and  conveniences  of  conrtry 
life. 


[Fig.  42.    Grecian  Residence.] 


We  have  already  avowed  that  we  consider  fitness  and 
expression  of  purpose,  two  leading  principles  of  the  first 
importance  in  Rural  Architecture  ;  and  Grecian  archi- 
tecture ir    its  pure  form,  viz.  the   temple,  when  applied  tc 


RURAL    ARCHITECTURE.  3S3 

the  purposes  of  domestic  life,  makes  a  sad  blow  at  both 
these  established  rules.  As  a  public  building,  the  Greek 
temple  form  is  perfect,  both  as  to  fitness  (having  one  or 
more  large  rooms)  and  expression  of  purpose  ; — showing 
a  high,  broad  portico  for  masses  of  people,  with  an  ample 
0])ening  for  egress  and  ingress.  Domestic  life,  on  the 
contrary,  requires  apartments  of  various  dimensions, 
some  large  and  others  smaller,  which,  to  be  conveniently, 
must  often  be  irregularly  placed,  with  perhaps  openings  or 
windows  of  different  sizes  or  dimensions.  The  comforts 
of  a  country  residence  are  so  various,  that  verandas, 
porches,  wings  of  different  sizes,  and  many  other  little 
accommodations  expressive  of  purpose,  become  necessary, 
and,  therefore,  when  properly  arranged,  add  to  the  beauty 
of  Rural  Architecture.  But  the  admirer  of  the  true 
Greek  models  is  obliged  to  forego  the  majority  of  these  ; 
and  to  come  within  the  presci'ibed  form  of  the  rectangular 
parallelogram,  his  apartments  must  be  of  a  given  size  and 
a  limited  number,  while  many  things,  both  exterior  and 
interior,  which  convenience  might  otherwise  prompt,  have 
to  bow  to  the  despotic  sway  of  the  pure  Greek  model.* 
In  a  dwelling  of  moderate  dimensions  how  great  a  sacrifice 
of  room  is  made  to  enable  the  architect  to  display  the 
portico  alone!  We  speak  now  chiefly  of  houses  of  Ihi 
ordinary  size,  for  if  one  chooses  to  build  a  palace,  it  is 
evident  that  ample  accommodations  may  be  obtained  in 
any  style. 


*  We  are  well  aware  that  such  is  the  rage  for  this  style  among  us  just  now, 
and  so  completely  have  our  builders  the  idea  of  its  unrivalled  supremacy  in 
their  heads,  that  many  submit  to  the  most  meagre  conveniences,  under  the 
name  of  closets,  libraries,  etc.,  in  our  country  houses,  without  a  murmur 
Qelieving  that  thoy  arc  i-  ilizing  the  perfection  of  domestic  comfort. 


384 


LANDSCAPE    GARDENING. 


It  has  been  well  observed 
by  modern  critics,  that  there 
is  no  reason  to  believe  the 
temple  form  was  ever,  even 
by  the  Greeks,  used  for  pri- 
vate dwellings,  which  easily 
accounts  for  our  compara- 
tive failure  in  constructing 
[Fig.  43.  Roman  Residence.]  w'ell    arranged,    Small    resi- 

dences in  this  style. 

The  Romans,  either  unable  to  compose  in  the  simple 
elegance  and  beauty  of  the  Grecian  style,  or  feeling  its 
want  of  adaptation  to  the  multifarious  usages  of  a  more 


[Fig.  44.    View  at  Presijue  Isle,  the  residence  of  Wm.  Denning,  Esq.,  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y.] 


luxurious  state  of  society,  created  for  themselves  what  is 
Sjenerally  considered  a  less  beautiful  and  perlect,  yet  which 
is  certainly  a  more  rich,  varied,  and,  if  we  may  use  the 


RURAL    ARCUITECTURE.  385 

term,  accommodating  style.  The  Roman  stijls  is  dis- 
tinguished from  its  prototype  by  the  introduction  of  arched 
openings  over  the  doors  and  windows,  story  piled  over 
story, — often  with  columns  of  different  orders — instead  of 
the  simple  unbroken  line  of  the  Greek  edifices.  In 
decoration,  the  buildings  in  this  style  vary  from  plain, 
unornamented  exteriors,  to  the  most  highly  decorated 
facades  ;  and  instead  of  being  confined  to  the  few  fixed 
principles  of  the  Greek,  the  greatest  latitude  is  often 
observed  in  the  proportions,  forms,  and  decorations  of 
buildings  in  the  Roman  style.  These  very  circumstances, 
while  they  rendered  the  style  less  perfect  as  a  fine  art,  or 
for  public  edifices,  gave  it  a  pliability  or  facility  of 
adaptation,  which  fits  it  more  completely  for  domestic 
purposes.  For  this  reason,  a  great  portion  of  the  finest 
specimens  of  the  modern  domestic  architecture  of  the 
other  continent  is  to  be  found  in  the  Roman  style.* 

The  Italian  style  is,  we  think,  decidedly  the  most 
beautiful  mode  for  domestic  purposes,  that  has  been  the 
direct  offspring  of  Grecian  art.  It  is  a  style  which  has 
evidently  grown  up  under  the  eyes  of  the  painters  of  more 
modern  Italy,  as  it  is  admirably  adapted  to  harmonize  with 
general  nature,  and  produce  a  pleasing  and  picturesque 
effect  in  fine  landscapes.  Retaining  more  or  less  of  the 
columns,  arches,  and  other  details  of  the  Roman  style,  it 
has  intrinsically  a  bold  irregularity,  and  strong  contrast  of 
light  and  shadow,  which  give  it  a  peculiarly  striking  and 
painter-like  effect. 

*  Perhaps  the  finest  facjade  "f  a  private  residence,  in  America,  is  that  of  the 
"Patroon's  house,"  near  Albany,  the  ancient  seat  of  the  Van  Rensselaer 
family,  lately  remodelled  and  improved  by  that  skilful  architect,  Mr.  Upjohn, 
of  New  York. 

25 


386  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

"The  villa  architecture  of  modern  Italy,"  savs  Mr. 
Lamb,  an  able  architect,*  "is  characterized,  when  on 
a  moderate  scale,  by  scattered  irregular  masses,  great 
contrasts  of  light  and  shade,  broken  and  plain  surfaces,  and 
great  variety  of  outline  against  the  sky.  The  blank  wall 
on  which  the  eye  sometimes  reposes  ;  the  towering  cam- 
panile, boldly  contrasted  with  the  horizontal  line  of  roof 
only  broken  by  a  few  straggling  chimney-tops  :  the  row  oi 
equal  sized,  closely  placed  windows,  contrasting  with  the 
plain  space  and  single  window  of  the  projecting  balcony; 
the  prominent  portico,  the  continued  arcade,  the  terraces, 
and  the  variously  formed  and  disposed  out-buildings,  all 
combine  to  form  that  picturesque  whole,  which  distinguishes 
the  modern  Italian  villa  from  every  other.j'f 

A  building  in  the  Italian  style  may  readily  be  known  at 
first  sight,  by  the  peculiar  appearance  of  its  roofs.  These 
are  always  projecting  at  the  eaves,  and  deeply  furrowed  or 


.■It. 


[Fig.  45.    A  Villa  in  the  Halian  style.] 

ridged,  being  formed  abroad  of  semi-cylindrical  tiles,  which 
give     a    distinct    and    highly  marked    expression    to    this 

*IiOudon's  Ency.  of  Arch.  p.  951. 

t  In  this  country,  owing  to  the  greater  number  of  fires,  the  effect  wouM  b« 
improved  by  an  additional  number  of  chimney-tops. 


Fi;;.  48.     Villa  of  TlieoiTose  L.yiiiaii,.  Bsq..  near  Bostoji 


Fig.  49.     Residence  of  Bishop  Doaue,  Burliiij,'toii,  ^.  .1. 


RHRAI-    ARCHITECTURE,  387 

portion  of  the  building.*  So  many  appliances  of  comfort 
and  enjoyment  suited  to  a  warm  climate  appear,  too,  in 
the  villas  of  this  style,  that  it  has  a  peculiarly  elegant  and 
refined  appearance.  Among  these  are  arcades,  with  the 
Roman  arched  openings,  forming  sheltered  promenades ; 
and  beautiful  balconies  projecting  from  single  windows,  or 
sometimes  from  connected  rows  of  windows,  which  are 
charming  places  for  a  coup  d'wil,  or  to  enjoy  the  cool 
breeze — as  they  admit,  to  shelter  one  from  the  sun,  of  a 
fanciful  awning  s!;ade,  which  may  be  raised  or  lovvered  at 
pleasure.  The  windows  themselves  are  bold,  and  well 
marked  in  outline,  being  either  round-arched  at  the  tops, 
or  finished  with  a  heavy  architrave. 


[Fig.  46.    Residence  of"  Gov.  Morolicail,  N^rth  Carolina.] 

All  these  balconies,  arcades,  etc.,  are  sources  of  real 
pleasure  in  the  hotter  portions  of  our  year,  which  are  quite 
equal  in  elevation  of  temperature  to  summers  of  the  south 
of  Europe  ;    while   by   increased  thickness   of  walls    and 

»  In  some  situations  in  this  country,  where  it  might  be  difTicult  to  procure 
\ilcs  mado  in  this  form,  their  effect  may  be  very  accurately  imitated  by  deeply 
ridged  7.inc  or  tin  coverings.  The  bold  projection  of  the  eaves,  in  the  Italian 
style,  oiFoi-i  great  protection  to  a  house  against  storms  and  dampness. 


388 


LANDSCAPC    GARDENING. 


closeness  of  window  fixtures,  the  houses  may  also  be  mado 
of  the  most  comfortable  description  in  winter. 

The  Italian  chimney-tops,  unlike  the  Grecian,  are 
always  openly  shown  and  rendered  ornamental ;  and  as 
we  have  already  mentioned,  the  irregularity  in  the  masses 
of  the  edifice  and  shape  of  the  roof,  renders  the  sky 
outline  of  a  building  in  this  style,  extremely  picturesque. 
A  villa,  however  small,  in  the  Italian  style,  may  have  an 
elegant  and  expressive  character,  without  interfering 
with  convenient  internal  arrangements,  while  at  the  same 
time  this  style  has  the  very  great  merit  of  allowing 
additions  to  be  made  in  almost  any  direction,  without 
■'■j:^,'/--         injuring  the   effect  of  the 

m 


original  structure ;  indeed 
such  is  the  variety  of  sizes 
and  forms  which  the  dif- 
ferent parts  of  an  Italian 
villa  may  take,  in  perfect 
accordance  with  architec- 


[Pig.  47.    The  New  Haven  Suburban  Villa.*] 

tural  jn-opriety,  that  the  original  edifice  frequently  gains  in 
beauty  by  additions  of  this  description.  Those  who  are 
aware  how  many  houses  are  every  year  erected  in  the 
United  States  by  persons  of  moderate  fortune,  who  would 
gladly  make  additions  at  some  subsequent  period,  could 
this  be  done  without  injuring  the  effect  or  beauty  of  the 
main  building,  will,   we  think,    acknowledge   how  much, 


*  New  Haven  abounds  with  tasteful  residences.  "  Hillhouse  Avenue,"  in 
particular,  is  remarkable  for  a  neat  display  of  Tuscan  or  Italian  Suburban 
Villas.  Moderate  in  dimension  and  economical  in  construction,  these  exceed- 
ingly neat  edifices  may  be  considered  as  models  for  this  kind  of  dwelling. 
Fig.  47,  without  being  a  precise  copy  of  any  one  of  these  buildings,  may  be 
taken  as  a  pretty  accurate  representation  of  their  general  appearance. 


RURAL    ARCHITECTURE.  36'J 

even  were  it  in  this  single  point  alone,  the   Italian  style  is 
superior  to  the  Grecian  for  rural  residences.* 

*  The  villa  of  Theodore  Lyman,  Esq.,  at  Brookline,  near  Boston,  Fig.  48, 
is  a  highly  interesting  specimen  of  this  style,  designed  by  Mr.  Upjohn — • 
beautiful  in  exterior  effect,  and  replete  internally  with  every  comfort  and 
convenience. 

Riverside  Villa,  the  residence  of  Bishop  Doano,  at  Burlington,  New 
Jersey,  is  one  of  the  best  examples  of  the  Italian  style  in  this  country.  For 
the  drawings  from  which  Figures  49  and  50  are  engraved,  and  for  the 
following  description,  we  are  indebted  to  the  able  architect,  John  Notman, 
Esq.,  of  Philadelphia,  from  whose  designs  the  whole  was  constracted. 

The  site  of  this  villa  is  upon  the  east  bank  of  the  Delaware  river,  near  the 
town  of  Burlington,  and  within  a  few  rods  of  the  margin  of  this  lovely 
stream. 

The  Delaware,  at  this  part  of  its  course,  takes  a  direction  nearly  w<;;t ;  and 
while  the  river  front  (comprising  the  drawing  room,  hall,  and  library),  com- 
manding the  finest  water  views,  which  are  enjoyed  to  the  greatest  advantage 
in  summer,  has  a  cool  aspect :  the  opposite  side  of  the  hou.^^e,  including  the 
dining  room,  parlor,  etc.,  is  the  favorite  quarter  in  winter,  being  fully  exposed 
to  the  genial  influence  of  the  sunbeams  during  the  absence  of  foliage  at  that 
season.  From  t'liis  side  of  the  house,  a  view  is  obtained  of  the  pretty  suburbs 
of  Burlington,  studded  with  neat  cottages  and  gardens. 

In  the  accompanying  plan,  fig.  50,  a,  is  the  hall ;  h,  the  vestibule  ;  c,  the 
dining  room  ;  d,  the  library  ;  e,  the  drawing  room  ;  /,  the  parlor ;  g.  Bishop 
D.'s  room  ;  h,  dressing  room  ;  i,  water  closets  ;  j,  bath  room  ;  k,  store  room  ; 
I,  principal  stairs  ;  m,  back  stairs  ;  o,  conservatory  ;  p,  veranda,  etc. 

A  small  terrace  with  balustrade,  which  surround.s  the  hall  door,  gives 
importance  to  this  leading  feature  of  the  entrance  front.  The  hall,  a,  is  17 
feet  square  ;  on  the  right  of  the  arched  entrance  is  a  casement  window, 
opening  to  the  floor,  occasionally  used  as  a  door  in  winter,  when  the  wind  if 
north.  The  vestibule,  6,  opens  from  the  hall,  17  by  21  feet.  In  the  ceiling 
of  this  central  apartment  is  a  circular  opening,  with  railing  in  the  second 
story,  forming  a  gallery  above,  which  communicates  with  the  di/Terc:.; 
chambers,  and  affords  ventilation  to  the  whole  house.  Over  this  circular 
opening  is  a  sky-light  in  the  roof,  which,  mellowed  and  softened  by  a  second 
colored  one  below  it,  serves  to  light  the  vestibule.  From  the  vestibule  we 
enter  the  dining  room,  h,  17  by  25  feet.  The  fine  vista  through  the  hall, 
vestibule,  and  dining  room,  70  feet  in  length,  is  here  terminated  by  the  bay- 
window  at  the  extremity  of  the  dining  room,  which,  through  the  balcony^ 
opens  on  the  lawn,  varied  by  groups  of  shrubbery.  On  the  left  side  of  tl.o 
vestibule,  through  a  wide  circular  headed  opening,  we  enter  upon  the  pr'n.  i,    ' 


?"'0 


LAXD.SCAPE    GAUUEMNO. 


Pleasing  associations   are    connected  with   Ronian.  and 
Italian  architecture,  especially  to  those  who  have  studied 

stairs,  I.  This  opening  is  balanced  by  a  recess  on  the  opposite  f'ide  of  the 
vestibule.  From  the  latter,  a  door  also  opens  into  the  library,  d,  and  another 
into  the  drawing  room,  e  :  offering,  by  a  window  in  the  library,  in  a  line  with 


:    _.  oO.    Plan  of  the  Principal  Floor.] 

these  doors,  another  fine  vista  in  this  direction.  The  library,  18  by  30  feet, 
and  16  feet  high,  is  fitted  up  in  a  rich  and  tasteful  manner,  and  completel}' 
filled  with  choice  books.  The  bay-window,  seen  on  the  left  in  the  perspective 
view.  Fig.  49,  is  a  prominent  feature  in  this  room,  admitting,  through  its 
cclorcd  pane-,  a  pleasing,  subdued  light,  in  keeping  with  the  character  of  the 
apartment.  The  drawing  room  is  19  by  30  feet,  with  an  enriched  panelled 
ceiling,  15  feet  high.  At  the  extremity  of  this  apartment,  the  veranda,  p, 
with  a  charming  view,  affords  an  agreeable  lounge  in  simimer  evenings, 
cooled  by  the  breeze  from  the  river.  From  the  drawing  room,  a  glazed  door 
opens  to  the  conservatory,  o,  and  another  door  to  the  parlor,  /.  The  latter  is 
18  by  20  feet,  looking  across  the  lawn  and  into  the  conservatory.  Among 
the  minor  details  are  a  china  closet,  r,  and  a  butler's  closet,  s,  in  the  dining 
room  ;  through  the  latter,  the  dishes  are  carried  to  and  from  the  kitchen, 
I:.''Jcr,  etc.  The  smaller  passage  leading  from  the  main  staircase,  opens  to 
i'l:^  i=tore  room,  k,  and  other  apartments  already  designated  and  communicatea 


RURAL    ARCHITECTURE.  391 

their  effect  in  all  the  richness  and  beauty  with  which  they 
are  invested  in  the  countries  where  they  originated  ;  and 
they  may  be  regarded  with  a  degree  of  classic  interest  by 
every  cultivated  mind.  The  modern  Italian  style  recalls 
images  of  that  land  of  painters  and  of  the  fine  arts,  where 
the  imagination,  the  fancy,  and  taste,  still  revel  in  a  world 
of  beauty  and  grace.  The  great  number  of  elegant  forms 
which  have  grown  out  of  this  long  cultivated  feeling  for 
the  beautiful  in  the  fine  arts, — in  the  shape  of  fine  vases, 
statues,  and  other  ornaments,  which  harmonize  with,  and 
are  so  well  adapted  to  enrich,  this  style  of  architecture, — 
combine  to  render  it  in  the  fine  terraced  gardens  of 
Florence  and  other  parts  of  Italy,  one  of  the  richest  and 
most  attractive  styles  in  existence.  Indeed  we  can  hardly 
imairine  a  mode  of  buildina;,  which  in  the  hands  of  a  man 
of  wealth  and  taste,  may,  in  this  country,  be  made  pro- 
ductive of  more  beauty,  convenience,  and  luxury,  than 
the  modern  Italian  style  ;  so  well  suited  to  both  our  hot 
summers  and  cold  winters,  and  which  is  so  easily  suscep- 
tible of  enrichment  and  decoration,  while  it  is  at  the  same 
time  so  well  adapted  to  the  material  in  the  most  common 
use  at  present  in  most  parts  of  the  country, — wood. 
Vases,  and  other  beautiful  architectural  ornaments,  may 
now  be  procured  in  our  cities,  or  imported  direct  from 
the  Mediterranean,  finely  cut  in   Maltese  stone,  at   very 

by  the  back  stairs,  m,  with  the  sen-ants'  chambers,  placed  over  this  part  ol  the 
house,  apart  from  those  in  the  main  body  of  the  edifice.  The  large  kitchen 
area,  t,  is  sunk  one  story,  by  which  the  noise  and  smells  of  the  kitchen 
situated  under  the  dining  room,  are  entirely  excluded  from  the  principal  story. 
In  this  sunk  story,  are  also  a  wash  room,  scullery,  and  ample  room  for 
collerage,  wine,  coals,  etc.  A  forcing-pump  supplies  t!ic  whole  house  with 
water  from  the  river  ;  and  in  the  second  story  are  eight  principal  chambers, 
averaging  3G0  square  feet  each,  making  in  all  25  rooms  ia  the  house,  of  larg« 


592 


LANDSCAPE    GARDENING. 


moderate  prices,  and  which  serve  to  decorate  both  the 
grounds  and  buildings  in  a  handsome  manner. 

From  the  Italian  style  it  is  an  easy  transition  to  the 
Swiss  mode,  a  bold  and  spirited  one,  highly  picturesque 
and  interesting  in  certain  situations.  To  build  an  exact 
copy  of  a  Swiss  cottage  in  a  smooth  cultivated  country, 
would,  both  as  regards  association  and  intrinsic  want 
of  fitness,  be  the  height  of  folly.  But  in  a  wild  and 
mountainous  region,  such  as  the  borders  of  certain  deep 
valleys  and  rocky  glens  in  the  Hudson  Highlands,  or 
rich  bits  of  the  Alleghanies,  positions  may  h^t  found 
where  the  Swiss  cottnge  (Fig.  51),  with  its  low  and  broad 
roof,  shedding  off  the  heavy  snows,  its  ornamented 
exterior  gallery,  its  strong  and  deep  brackets,  and  its 
rough  and  rustic  exterior,  would  be  in  the  highest  degree 
appropriate. 


[Fig.  51.    The  Swiss  Cottage.] 


A  modification,  partaking  somewhat  of  the  Italian  and 
Swiss  features,  is  what  we  have  described  more  fully  in  our 
"  Cottage  Residences"  as  the  Bracketed  mode.    It  possesses' 


RURAL    ARCHITECTURE. 


393 


a  good  deal  of  character,  is  capable  of  considerable  pic- 
turesque effect,  is  very  easily  and  cheaply  constructed  of 
wood  or  stone,  and  is  perhaps  more  entirely  adapted  to  our 


€>^^.^^f^ 


[Fig.  52     The  Bracketed  Mode.] 

hot  summers  and  cold  winters  than  any  other  equally 
simple  mode  of  building.  We  hope  to  see  this  Bracketed 
style  becoming  every  day  more  common  in  the  United 
States,  and  especially  in  our  farm  and  country  houses, 
when  wood  is  the  material  employed  in  their  construction. 
Gothic,  or  more  properly,  pointed  architecture,  which 
sprang  up  with  the  Christian  religion,  reached  a  point  of 
great  perfection  about  the  thirteenth  century  ;  a  period 
when  the  most  magnificent  churches  and  cathedrals  of 
England  and  Germany  were  erected.  These  wonderful 
structures,  reared  by  an  almost  magical  skill  and  contriv- 
ance, with  their  richly  groined  roofs  of  stone  supported  in 
mid-air ;  their  beautiful  and  elaborate  tracery  and  carving 
of  plants,  flowers,  and  animate  objects  ;  their  large  windows 


39t  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

through  which  streamed  a  rich  glow  of  rainbow  HghL ;  their 
various  buttresses  and  pinnacles,  all  contributing  to 
strengthen,  and  at  the  same  time  give  additional  beauty  to 
the  exterior ;  their  clustered  columns,  airy-like,  yet  firm ; 
and,  surmounting  the  whole,  the  tall  spire,  piled  up  to  an 
almost  fearful  height  towards  the  heavens,  are  lasting 
monuments  of  the  genius,  scientific  skill,  and  mechanical 
ingenuity  of  the  artists  of  those  times.  That  person,  who, 
from  ignorance  or  prejudice,  fully  supposes  there  is  no 
architecture  but  that  of  the  Greeks,  would  do  well  to  study 
one  of  these  unrivalled  specimens  of  human  skill.  In  so 
doing,  unless  he  closes  his  eyes  against  the  evidences  of  his 
senses,  he  cannot  but  admit  that  there  is  far  more  genius, 
and  more  mathematical  skill,  evinced  in  one  of  these 
cathedrals,  than  would  have  been  requisite  in  the  construc- 
tion of  the  most  celebrated  of  the  Greek  temples.  Though 
they  may  not  exhibit  that  simplicity  and  harmony  of  pro- 
portion which  Grecian  buildings  display,  they  abound  in 
much  higher  proofs  of  genius,  as  is  abundantly  evinced  in 
the  conception  and  execution  of  Cathedrals  so  abounding 
in  unrivalled  sublimity,  variety,  and  beauty. 

Gothic  architecture,  in  its  purity,  was  characterized 
mainly  by  the  pointed  arch.  This  novel  feature  in  archi- 
tecture, which,  probably,  in  the  hands  of  artists  of  great 
mathematical  skill,  was  suggested  by  the  inefficiency  of  the 
Roman  arch  first  used,  has  given  rise  to  all  the  superior 
boldness  and  picturesqueness  of  this  style  compared  with 
the  Grecian ;  for  while  the  Greek  artist  was  obliged  to 
cover  his  narrow  openings  with  architraves,  or  solid  blocks 
of  stone,  resting  on  columns  at  short  intervals,  and  filling 
up  the  open  space,  the  Gothic  artist,  by  a  singlo  span  of 
his  pointed  arch,  resting  on  distant  pillars,  ko].i  the  '.viiol<5 


RURAL    ARCHITECTURE.  395 

area  beneath  free  and  unencumbered.  Applied,  too,  tc 
openings  for  the  admission  of  light,  which  were  deemed 
of  comparatively  little  or  no  importance  by  the  Greeks,  the 
arch  was  of  immense  value,  making  it  possible  to  pierce 
the  solid  wall  with  large  and  lofty  apertures,  that  diffused 
a  magical  •  brilliancy  of  light  in  the  otherwise  dim  and 
shadowy  interior. 

We  have  here  adverted  lo  the  Gothic  cathedral  (as  we 
did  to  the  Greek  temple)  as  exhibiting  the  peculiar  style  in 
question  in  its  greatest  purity.  For  domestic  purposes, 
both,  for  the  same  reasons,  are  equally  unfitted  ;  as  they 
were  never  so  intended  to  be  used  by  their  original  invent- 
ors, and  being  entirely  wanting  in  fitness  for  the  purposes 
ot  habitation  in  domestic  life ;  the  Greek  temple,  as  we 
have  already  shown,  from  its  massive  porticoes  and  the 
simple  rectangular  form  of  its  interior  ;  and  the  Gothic 
cathedra],  from  its  high-pointed  windows,  and  immense 
vaulted  apartments.  It  would  scarcely,  however,  be  more 
absurd  to  build  a  miniature  cathedral,  for  a  dwelling  in  the 
Gothic  style,  than  to  make  an  exact  copy  of  the  Temple  of 
Minerva  30  by  50  feet  in  size,  for  a  country  residence,  as 
we  often  witness  in  this  country. 

The  Gothic  Style,  as  applied  to  Domestic  Architecture, 
has  been  varied  and  adapted  in  a  great  diversity  of  ways, 
to  the  wants  of  society  in  different  periods,  from  the  12th 
century  to  the  present  time.  The  baronial  castle  of  feudal 
days,  perched  upon  its  solitary,  almost  inaccessible  height, 
and  built  strongly  for  defence  ;  the  Collegiate  or  monastic 
abbey  of  the  monks,  suited  to  the  rich  fertile  plains  which 
these  jolly  ascetics  so  well  knew  how  to  select ;  the  Tudor 
or  Ehzabethan  mansion,  of  the  English  gentleman,  sur- 
rounded by  its  beautiful  park,  filled  with  old  ancestral  trees; 


896 


LANDSCAPE    GARDENING. 


and  the  pretty,  rural,  gabled  cottage,  of  more  humble  pre- 
tensions ;  are  all  varieties  of  this  multiform  style,  easily 
adapting  itself  to  the  comforts  and  conveniences  of  private 

life. 

Contrasted  with  Classic  Architecture  and  its  varieties, 
in  which  horizontal  lines  are  most  prevalent,  all  the  differ- 
ent Gothic  modes  or  styles  exhibit  a  preponderance  of 
vertical  or  perpendicular  lines.  In  the  purer  Gothic 
Architecture,  the  style  is  often  determined  by  the  form  of 
the  arch  predominant  in  the  window  and  door  openings, 
which  in  all  edifices  (except  Norman  buildings)  were  lancet- 
shaped,  or  high  pointed,  in  the  13th  century  ;  four  centred 
or  low  arched,  in  the  times  of  Henry  VII.  and  VIII. ;  ana 
finally  square-headed,  as  in  most  domestic  buildings  of 
later  date. 

Castellated  Gothic  is  easily  known,  at  first  sight,  by  the 
line  of  battlements  cut  out  of  the  solid  parapet  wall,  which 
surmounts  the  outline  of  the  building  in  every  part.  These 
generally  conceal  the  roof,  which  is  low,  and  were  origin- 
ally intended  as  a  shelter  to  those  engaged  in  defending  the 

building  against  assaults. 
Modern  buildings  in  the 
castellated  style,  without 
sacrificing  almost  every- 
thing to  strength,  as  was 
^r^'  once  necessarv,  preserve 
\     ^^fr^  the  general  character  of 
[^^i?»«:-a-A*.i.^A*,'::i-'«-'^i3s^    o^Q  ancient  castle,  while 

[Fig.  b.i.    The  CastelWited  Alode.J 

they  combine  with  it  almost  every  modern  luxury.  In 
their  exteriors,  we  perceive  strong  and  massive  octagonal 
or  circular  towers,  rising  boldly,  with  corbelled  or  project- 
ing cornices,  above  the  ordinary  level  of  the  building.    The 


RURAL    ARCIIITECTUKE.  397 

windows  are  either  pointed  or  square-headed,  or  perhaps  a 
mixture  of  both.  The  porch  rises  into  a  turreted  and 
embattled  gateway,  and  all  the  offices  and  out-buildings 
connected  with  the  main  edifice,  are  constructed  in  a  style 
corresponding  to  that  exhibited  in  the  main  body  of  the 
building.  The  whole  is  placed  on  a  distinct  and  firm 
terrace  of  stone,  and  the  expression  of  the  edifice  is  that 
of  strength  and  security. 

This  mode  of  building  is  evidently  of  too  ambitious  and 
expensive  a  kind  for  a  republic,  where  landed  estates  are 
not  secured  by  entail,  but  divided,  according  to  the  dictates 
of  nature,  among  the  different  members  of  a  family.  It  is, 
perhaps,  also  rather  wanting  in  appropriateness,  castles 
never  having  been  used  for  defence  in  this  country. 
Notwithstanding  these  objections,  there  is  no  very  weighty 
reason  why  a  wealthy  proprietor  should  not  erect  his 
mansion  in  the  castellated  style,  if  that  style  be  in  unison 
with  his  scenery  and  locality.  Few  instances,  however, 
of  sufficient  wealth  and  taste  to  produce  edifices  of  this 
kind,  are  to  be  met  with  among  us ;  and  the  castellated 
style  is  therefore  one  which  we  cannot  fully  recommend 
for  adoption  here.  Paltry  imitations  of  it,  in  materials  less 
durable  than  brick  or  stone,  would  be  discreditable  to  any 
person  having  the  least  pretension  to  correct  taste. 

The  Castellated  style  never  appears  completely  at  home 
except  in  wild  and  romantic  scenery,  or  in  situations  where 
the  neighboring  mountain,?,  or  wild  passes,  are  sufficiently 
near  to'  give  that  character  to  the  landscape.  In  such 
localities  the  Gothic  castle  affects  us  agreeably,  because  we 
know  that  baronial  castles  were  generally  built  in  similar 
spots,  and  because  the  battlements,  towers,  and  other  bold 
features,   combine    well     with    the    rugged   and   spirited 


398  LANDSCAPE  CARDENING. 

character  of  the  surrounding  objects.  To  place  suc.Ii  a 
building  in  this  country  on  a  smooth  si/rface  in  the  midst 
of  fertile  plains,  would  immediately  be  felt  to  be  b?.d  taste 
by  every  one,  as  from  the  style  not  having  been  before  our 
eyes  from  childhood,  as  it  is  in  Europe,  we  immediately 
refer  to  its  original  purposes, — those  of  security  and 
defence. 

A  mansion  in  the  Tudor  Style  affords  the  best  example 
of  the  excellence  of  Gothic  architecture  for  domestic 
purposes.  The  roof  often  rises  boldly  here,  instead  of 
being  concealed  by  the  parapet  wall,  and  the  gables  are 
either  plain  or  ornamented  with  crockets.  The  windows 
are  divided  by  mullions,  and  are  generally  enriched  with 
tracery  in  a  style  less  florid  than  that  employed  in  churches, 
but  still  sufficiently  elegant  to  give  an  appearance  of 
decoration  to  these  parts  of  the  building.  Sometimes  the 
low,  or  Tudor  arch,  is  displayed  in  the  window-heads,  but 
most  commonly  the  square-headed  window  with  the  Gothic 
label  is  employed.  Great  latitude  is  allowed  in  this 
particular,  as  well  as  in  the  size  of  the  window,  provided 
the  general  details  of  style  are  attended  to.  Indeed,  in  the 
domestic  architecture  of  this  era,  the  windows  and  doors 
are  often  sources  of  great  architectural  beauty,  instead  of 
being  left  mere  bare  openings  filled  with  glass,  as  in  the 
Classic  styles.  Not  only  is  each  individual  window 
divided  by  mullions  into  compartments  whose  tops  are 
encircled  by  tracery  ;  but  in  particular  apartments,  as  the 
dining-hall,  library,  etc.,  these  are  filled  with  richly  "stained 
glass,  which  gives  a  mellow,  pleasing  light  to  the  apartment. 
Added  to  this,  the  windows,  in  the  best  Tudor  mansions, 
affect  a  great  variety  of  forms  and  sizes.  Among  these 
stand  conspicuou'^  the  hay  and  oriel  windows.     The  bay 


Mr.  Paulding's  Residenre.  'I';ivi  ytowii.  N.  V 


Uesideacc  ol'  the  Author,  ucar  Nowluugh,  N.  V, 


RURAL    ARCIIITECTUKE.  390 

window,  which  is  introduced  on  the  first  or  principal  floor, 
in  most  apartments  of  much  size  or  importance,  is  a 
window  of  treble  or  quadruple  the  common  size,  projecting 
from  the  main  body  of  the  room  in  a  semi-octagonal  or 
hexagonal  form,  thereby  affording  more  space  in  the 
apartment,  from  the  floor  to  the  ceiling,  as  well  as  giving 
an  abundance  of  light,  and  a  fine  prospect  in  any  favorite 
direction.  This,  while  it  has  a  grander  effect  than  several 
windows  of  moderate  size,  gives  a  variety  of  form  and 
outline  to  the  different  apartments,  that  can  never  be  so 
well  attained  when  the  windows  are  mere  openings  cut  in 
the  solid  walls.  The  oriel-window  is  very  similar  to  the 
bay-window,  but  projecting  in  a  similar  manner  from  the 
upper  story,  supported  on  corbelled  mouldings.  These 
windows  are  not  only  elegant  in  the  interior,  but  by 
standing  out  from  the  face  of  the  walls,  they  prevent  any- 
thing like  too  great  a  formality  externally,  and  bestow  a 
pleasing  variety  on  the  different  fronts  of  the  building. 

The  sky  outline  of  a  villa  in  the  Tudor  Gothic  style,  is 
highly  picturesque.  It  is  made  up  of  many  fine  features. 
The  pointed  gables,  with  their  finials,  are  among  the  most 
striking,  and  the  neat  parapet  wall,  either  covered  with  a 
moulded  coping,  or,  perhaps,  diversified  with  battlements ; 
the  latter  not  so  massive  as  in  the  castellated  style,  but 
evidently  intended  for  ornament  only.  The  roof  line  is 
often  varied  by  the  ornamented  gablet  of  a  dormer  window, 
rising  here  and  there,  and  adding  to  the  quaintness  of  the 
whole.  We  must  not  forget,  above  all,  the  highly  enriched 
chimney  shaft,  which,  in  the  English  examples,  is  made  of 
fancifully  moulded  bricks,  and  is  carried  up  in  clusters 
some  distance  above  the  roof  How  much  more  pleasing 
for  a  dwellincr  must  be  the  outline  of  such  a  building  thai? 


400  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

,hat  of  a  simple  square  roof  whose  summit  is  one  unbroken 
straight  line  !* 

The  inclosed  entrance  porch,  approached  by  three  or 
four  stone  steps,  with  a  seat  or  two  for  servants  waiting,  is 
a  distinctive  mark  of  all  the  old  English  houses.  This 
projects,  in  most  cases,  from  the-  main  body  of  the  edifice, 
and  opens  directly  into  the  hall.  The  latter  apartment  is 
not  merely  (as  in  most  of  our  modern  houses)  an  entry, 
narrow  and  long,  running  directly  through  the  house,  but 
has  a  peculiar  character  of  its  own,  being  rather  spacious, 
the  roof  or  ceiling  ribbed  or  groined,  and  the  floor  often 
inlaid  with  marble  tiles.  A  corresponding  and  suitable 
style  of  finish,  with  Gothic  details,  runs  through  all  the 
different  apartments,  each  of  which,  instead  of  being 
finished  and  furnished  with  the  formal  sameness  here  so 
prevalent,  displays,  according  to  its  peculiar  purposes — 
as  the  dining-room,  drawing-room,  library,  etc. — a  marked 
and  characteristic  air. 

We  have  thus  particularized  the  Tudor  mansion,  because 
we  believe  that  for  a  cold  country  like  England  or  the 
United  States,  it  has  strong  claims  upon  the  attention  of 
large  landed  proprietors,  or  those  who  wish  to  realize  in  a 
country  residence  the  greatest  amount  of  comfort  and 
enjoyment.  With  the  addition,  here,  of  a  veranda,  which 
the  cool  summers  of  England  render  needless,  we  believe 
the  Tudor  Gothic  to  be  the  most  convenient  and  com- 
fortable, and  decidedly  the  most  picturesque  and   striking 


*  Two  miles  south  of  Albany,  on  a  densely  wooded  hill,  is  the  villa  of  Jool 
Rathbone,  Esq.,  Fig.  54,  one  of  the  most  complete  specimens  of  the  Tudor 
Btyle  in  the  United  States.  It  was  built  from  the  designs  of  Davis,  and  is, 
to  the  amateur,  a  very  instructive  example  of  this  mode  of  domestic  arcUi 
lecture. 


Fig.  54.     Residence  of  Joel  Ratliboiie,  Esq.,  near  Albany,  N.  Y. 


Fig.  55.     Cottage  of  S.  K.  Lyon.  Kslj..  Wliito  I'liiins.  i\.  V 
400 


Fig.  5G.     A  Mansion  in  tlio  Elizal)ethan  style. 


Fijf.  57.     Tlio  Residence  of  tlio  Uov.  Robert  Bolton,  near  N'ew  Ro<'liclle,  N  .  V 


RURAL    ARCHITECTURE.  401, 

style,  for  country  residences  of  a  superior  class.*  The- 
materials  generally  employed  in  their  construction  in 
England,  are  stone  aud  brick ;  and  of  late  years,  brick 
and  stucco  has  come  into  very  general  use. 

The  Elizabethan  Style,  that  mode  of  building  so  com- 
mon in  England  in  the  17th  century, — a  mixture  oi 
Gothic  and  Grecian  in  its  details — is  usually  considered  as 
a  barbarous  kind  of  architecture,  wanting  in  purity  of 
taste.  Be  this  as  it  may,  it  cannot  be  denied  that  in  the 
finer  specimens  of  this  style,  there  is  a  surprising  degree 
of  richness  and  picturesqueness  for  which  we  may  look  in 
vain  elsewhere.  In  short  it  seems,  in  the  best  examples, 
admirably  fitted  for  a  bowery,  thickly  foliaged  country, 
like  England,  and  for  the  great  variety  of  domestic 
enjoyments  of  its  inhabitants.  In  the  most  florid  examples 
of  this  style,  of  which  many  specimens  yet  remain,  we 
often  meet  with  every  kind  of  architectural  feature  and 
ornament,  oddly,  and  often  grotesquely  combined — pointed 
gables,  dormer-windows,  steep  and  low  roofs,  twisted 
columns,  pierced  parapets,  and  broad  windows  with  small 
lights.  Sometimes  the  effect  of  this  fantastic  combination 
is  excellent,  but  often  bad.  The  florid  Elizabethan  style 
is,  therefore,  a  very  dangerous  one  in  the  hands  of  any 
one  but  an  architect  of  profound  taste ;  but  we  think  in 
some  of  its  simpler  forms  (Fig.  56),  it  may  be  adopted  for 
country  residences  here  in  picturesque  situations  with  a 
quaint  and  happy  effect.f 

*  The  residence  of  Samuel  E.  Lyon,  Esq.,  at  White  Plains,  N.  Y.,  Fig.  55, 
is  a  very  pleasing  example  of  the  Tudor  Cottage. 

The  seat  of  Robert  Gilmor,  Esq.,  near  Baltimore,  in  the  Tudor  style,  is  a 
very  extensive  pile  of  building. 

t  A  highly  unique  residence  in  the  old  English  syle,  is  Pelliam  Priory,  the 
seat  of  the  Rev.  Robert  Bolton,  near  New  Rochelle,  N.  Y.,  Fig.  57.     The 

26 


402  1  ANLiriCAPE    GARDENING. 

The  English  cottage  style,  or  what  we  have  denominated 
Rural  Gothic,  contains  within  itself  all  the  most  striking 
and  peculiar  elements  of  the  beautiful  and  picturesque  iu 
Its  exterior,  while  it  admits  of  the  greatest  possible  variety 
of  accommodation  and  convenience  in  internal  arrange- 
ment. 

In  its  general  composition,  Rural  Gothic  really  differs 
from  the  Tudor  style  more  in  that  general  simjjlicity 
which  serves  to  distinguish  a  cottage  or  villa  of  moderate 
size  from  a  mansion,  than  in  any  marked  character  of  its 
own.  The  square-headed  windows  preserve  the  same 
form,  and  display  the  Gothic  label  and  mullions,  though 
the  more  expensive  finish  of  decorative  tracery  is  fre- 
quently omitted.  Diagonal  or  latticed  lights  are  also  more 
commonly  seen  in  the  cottage  style  than  in  the  mansion. 
The  general  form  and  arrangement  of  the  building,  though 
of  course  much  reduced,  is  not  unlike  that  of  the  latter 
edifice.  The  entrance  porch  is  always  preserved,  and  the 
bay-window  jutting  out  from  the  best  apartment,  gives 
variety,  and  an  agreeable  expression  of  use  and  enjoyment, 
to  almost  every  specimen  of  the  old  English  cottage. 

Perhaps  the  most  striking  feature  of  this  charming  style 
as  we  see  it  in  the  best  old  English  cottages,  is  the  pointed 
gable.     This  feature,  which  grows  out  of  the  high  roofs 

exterior  is  massive  and  picturesque,  in  the  simplest  taste  of  the  Elizabethan 
age,  and  being  built  amidst  a  fine  oak  wood,  of  the  dark  rough  stone  of  the 
neighborhood,  it  has  at  once  the  appearance  of  considerable  antiquity.  The 
interior  is  constructed  and  fitted  up  throughout  in  the  same  feeling, — with 
liarmonious  wainscoting,  quaint  carving,  massive  chimney  pieces,  and  old 
furniture  and  armor.  Indeed,  we  doubt  if  there  i.?,  at  the  present  moment 
any  recent  private  re.-idence,  even  in  England,  where  the  spirit  of  the  antique 
b  more  entirely  carried  out,  and  where  one  may  more  easily  fancy  himself  iu 
one  of  those  "  man  dons  builded  curiously  "  of  our  ancestors  m  the  time  of 
"  good  Queen  Bess  " 


RURAL    ARCHITECTURE.  403 

udopted,  not  only  appears  in  the  two  ends  of  the  main 
building,  but  terminates  every  wing  or  projection  of  almost 
any  size  that  joins  to  the  principal  body  of  the  house.  The 
gables  are  either  of  stone  or  brick,  with  a  handsome 
mouJded  coping,  or  they  are  finished  with  the  widely  pro- 
jecting roof  of  wood,  and  vei-ge  hoards,  carved  in  a  fanciful 
and  highly  decorative  shape.  In  cither  case,  the  point  or 
apex  is  crowned  by  a  finial,  or  ornamental  octagonal  shaft, 
rendering  the  gable  one  of  the  greatest  sources  of  interest 
in  these  dwellings.  The  projecting  roof  renders  the  walls 
always  dry. 

The  porch,  the  labelled  windows,  the  chimney  shafts, 
and  the  ornamented  gables,  being  the  essential  features  in 
the  composition  of  the  English  cottage  style,  it  is  evident 
that  this  mode  of  building  is  highly  expressive  of  purpose, 
for  country  residences  of  almost  every  description  and  size, 
from  the  humblest  peasant's  cottage,  to  the  beautiful  and 
picturesque  villa  of  the  retired  gentleman  of  fortune.  In 
the  simple  form  of  the  cottage,  the  whole  may  be  con- 
structed of  wood  very  cheaply,  and  in  the  more  elaborate 
villa  residence,  stone,  or  brick  and  cement,  may  be  preferred, 
as  being  more  permanent.  No  style  so  readily  admits  of 
enrichment  as  that  of  the  old  English  cottage  when  on  a 
considerable  scale  ;  and  by  the  addition  of  pointed  verandas, 
bay  windows,  and  dormer-windows,  by  the  introduction  of 
mullions  and  tracery  in  the  window  openings,  and  indeed, 
by  a  multitude  of  interior  and  exterior  enrichments  gene- 
rally applied  to  the  Tudor  mansions,  a  villa  in  the  rural 
Gothic  style  may  be  made  a  perfect  gem  of  a  country 
residence.  Of  all  the  styles  hitherto  enum.erated,  we  con- 
sider this  one  of  the  most  suitable  for  this  country,  as, 
while  it  comes  within  the  reach  of  all  persons  ^f  moderate 


404  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

means,  it  unites,  as  we  before  stated,  so  much  of  conve- 
nience and  rural  beauty.* 

To  the  man  of  tasie,  there  is  no  style  which  presents 
greater  attractions,  being  at  once  rich  in  picturesque 
beauty,  and  harmonious  in  connexion  with  the  surrounding 
forms  of  vegetation.  The  Grecian  villa,  with  its  simple 
forms  and  horizontal  lines,  seems  to  us  only  in  good  keeping 
when  it  is  in  a  smooth,  highly  cultivated,  peaceful  scene. 
But  the  Rural  Gothic,  the  lines  of  which  point  upwards,  in 
the  pyramidal  gables,  tall  clusters  of  chimneys,  finials,  and 
the  several  other  portions  of  its  varied  outline,  harmonizes 
easily  with  the  tall  trees,  the  tapering  masses  of  foliage,  or 
the  surrounding  hills  ;  and  while  it  is  seldom  or  never 
misplaced  in  spirited  rural  scenery,  it  gives  character  and 
picturesque  expression  to  many  landscapes  entirely  devoid 
of  that  quality. 

What  we  have  already  said  in  speaking  of  the  Italian 
style,  respecting  the  facility  with  which  additions  may  be 
made  to  irregular  houses,  applies  with  equal,  or  even 
greater  force,  to  the  varieties  of  the  Gothic  style,  just 
described.  From  the  very  fact  that  the  highest  beauty  of 
these  modes  of  building  arises  from  their  irregularity 
(opposed  to  Grecian  architecture,  which,  in  its  chaste 
simplicity,  should  be  regular),  it  is  evident  that  additions 


*  The  only  objection  that  can  be  urged  against  this  mode  of  building,  is  that 
which  applies  to  all  cottages  with  a  low  second  story,  viz.  want  of  coolness  in 
the  sleeping  chambers  during  mid-summer.  An  evil  which  may  be  remedied 
by  constructing  a  false  inner-roof — leaving  a  vacuity  between  the  two  roofs  of 
six  or  eight  inches,  which  being  occupied  with  air  and  ventilated  at  the  top,  will 
almost  entirely  obviate  the  objection. 

In  our  Cottage  Residences,  Design  II.,  we  have  shown  how  the  comfort  of 
a  full  second  story,  sui:abb  f;r  this  climate,  may  be  combined  with  the  expres 
sion  of  the  English  cottage  style. 


RURAL    ARCHITECTURE.  405 

judiciously  made  will  tend  to  increase  this  beauty,  or  alVord 
more  facility  for  its  display  ;  while  it  is  equally  evident 
that  in  the  interior  arrangement,  including  apartments  of 
every  description,  superior  opportunities  are  afforded  for 
attaining  internal  comfort  and  convenience,  as  well  as 
external  effect. 

The  ideas  connected  in  our  minds  with  Gothic 
architecture  are  of  a  highly  romantic  and  poetical  nature 
contrasted  with  the  classical  associations  which  the 
Greek  and  Roman  styles  suggest.  Although  our  own 
country  is  nearly  destitute  of  ruins  and  ancienf  time- 
worn  edifices,  yet  the  literature  of  Europe,  and  particularly 
of  what  we  term  the  mother  country,  is  so  much  our  own, 
that  we  form  a  kind  of  delightful  ideal  acquaintance  with 
the  venerable  castles,  abbeys,  and  strongholds  of  the 
middle  ages.  Romantic  as  is  the  real  history  of  those 
times  and  places,  to  our  minds  their  charm  is  greatly 
enhanced  by  distance,  by  the  poetry  of  legendary 
superstition,  and  the  fascination  of  fictitious  narrative. 
A  castellated  residence,  therefore,  in  a  wild  and  pictur- 
esque situation,  may  be  interesting,  not  only  from  its  being 
perfectly  in  keeping  with  surrounding  nature,  but  from 
the  delightful  manner  in  which  it  awakens  association? 
fraught  with  the  most  enticing  history  of  the  past. 

The  older  domestic  architecture  of  the  English  may  be 
viewed  in  another  pleasing  Hght.  Their  buildings  and 
residences  have  not  only  the  recommendation  of  beauty 
and  complete  adaptation,  but  the  additional  charm  of 
having  been  the  homes  of  our  ancestors,  and  the  dwellings 
of  that  bright  galaxy  of  English  genius  and  worth,  which 
illuminates  equally  the  intellectual  firmament  of  both 
hemispheres.     He   who  has  extended  his  researches,  con 


406  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

amove,  into  the  history  of  the  domestic  life  and  habits  of 
tliose  illustrious  minds,  will  not,  we  are  sure,  forget  that 
lowly  cottage  by  the  side  of  the  Avon,  where  the  great 
English  bard  was  wont  to  dwell ;  the  tasteful  residence 
of  Pope  at  Twickenham  ;  or  the  turrets  and  battlements 
of  the  more  picturesque  Abbotsford  ;  and  numberless  other 
examples  of  the  rural  buildings  of  England,  once  the 
abodes  of  renowned  genius.  In  truth,  the  cottage  and 
villa  architecture  of  the  English  has  grown  out  of  the 
feelings  and  habits  of  a  refined  and  cultivated  people, 
whose  devotion  to  country  life,  and  fondness  for  all  its 
pleasures,  are  so  finely  displayed  in  the  beauty  of  their 
dwellings,  and  the  exquisite  keeping  of  their  buildings  and 
grounds. 

We  must  be  permitted  to  quote,  in  further  proof  of 
English  taste  and  habits,  and  their  results  in  their  country 
residences,  the  testimony  of  our  countryman,  Washington 
Irving,  in  one  of  his  most  elegant  essays.  "  The  taste  of 
the  English  in  the  cultivation  of  land,  and  in  what  is  called 
Landscape  Gardening,  is  unrivalled.  They  have  studied 
nature  intently,  and  discovered  an  exquisite  sense  of  her 
beautiful  forms  and  harmonious  combinations.  Those 
charms  which  in  other  countries  she  lavishes  in  wild 
solitudes,  are  here  assembled  around  the  haunts  of 
domestic  life.  They  seem  to  have  caught  her  coy  and 
furtive  graces,  and  spread  them  like  witchery  about  their 
rural  abodes.  Nothing  can  be  more  imposing  than  the 
magnificence  of  English  park  scenery.  Vast  lawns  that 
extend  like  sheets  of  vivid  green,  with  here  and  there 
clumps  of  gigantic  trees  heaping  up  rich  piles  of  foliage 
The  solemn  group  of  groves  and  woodland  glades,  with 
the  deer  trooping  in  silent  herds  across  them  ;   the  hart 


KURAL    ARCIilTECTUUE.  407 

bounding  away  to  the  covert,  or  the  pheasant  bursting 
suddenly  upon  the  wing.  The  brook,  taught  to  wind  in 
natural  meanderings,  or  to  expand  into  a  glassy  lake, — the 
sequestered  pool  reflecting  the  quivering  trees,  with  the 
yellow  leaf  sleeping  upon  its  bosom,  and  the  trout  roaming 
fearlessly  about  its  limpid  waters  ;  wh>le  some  rustic 
temple  or  sylvan  statue,  grown  green  and  dark  with  age, 
gives  an  air  of  classic  sanctity  to  the  seclusion." 

"  These  are  but  a  few  of  the  features  of  park  scenery ; 
but  what  most  delights  me,  is  the  creative  talent  with 
which  the  English  decorate  the  unostentatious  abodes  of 
middle  life.  The  rudest  habitation,  the  most  unpromising 
and  scanty  portion  of  land,  in  the  hands  of  an  Englishman 
of  taste,  becomes  a  little  paradise.  With  a  nicely 
discriminating  eye  he  seizes  at  once  upon  its  capabilities, 
and  pictures  in  his  mind  the  future  landscape.  The  sterile 
spot  grows  into  loveliness  under  his  hand  ;  and  yet  the 
operations  of  art  which  produce  the  effect  are  scarcely  to 
be  perceived ;  the  cherishing  and  training  of  some  trees : 
the  cautious  pruning  of  others  ;  the  nice  distribution  of 
flowers  and  plants  of  tender  and  graceful  foliage ;  the 
introduction  of  a  green  slope  of  velvet  turf;  the  partial 
opening  to  a  peep  of  blue  distance,  or  silver  gleam  of 
water, — all  these  are  managed  with  a  delicate  tact,  a  per 
vading,  yet  quiet  assiduity,  like  the  magic  touchings  with 
which  a  painter  finishes  up  a  favorite  picture." 

"  The  residence  of  people  of  fortune  and  refinement  in 
the  country,  has  diffused  a  degree  of  taste  and  elegance 
that  descends  to  the  lowest  class.  The  very  laborer,  with 
his  thatched  cottage  and  narrow  slip  of  gi'ound,  attends  to 
their  embellishment.  The  trim  hedge,  the  grass-plot  before 
the  door,  the  little  flower  bed  bordered  with  snug  box,  the 


ft08  LANDSCAPE    GARDENING. 

woodbine  trained  up  against  the  wall,  and  hanging  its 
blossoms  about  the  lattice ;  the  pot  of  flowers  in  the 
window ;  the  holly  providentially  planted  about  the  house 
to  cheat  winter  of  its  dreariness,  and  to  throw  in  a 
semblance  of  green  summer  to  cheat  the  fireside  : — all 
these  bespeak  the  influence  of  taste  flowing  down  from 
high  sources,  and  pervading  the  lowest  levels  of  the  public 
mind.  If  ever  Love,  as  the  poets  sing,  delights  to  visit  a 
cottage,  it  must  be  the  cottage  of  an  English  peasant." 

It  is  this  love  of  rural  life  and  this  nice  feeling  of  the 
harmonious  union  of  nature  and  art,  that  reflects  so  much 
credit  upon  the  English  as  a  people,  an'd  which  sooner  or 
later  we  hope  to  see  completely  naturalized  in  this  country. 
Under  its  enchanting  influence,  the  too  great  bustle  and 
excitement  of  our  commercial  cities  will  be  happily  counter- 
balanced by  the  more  elegant  and  quiet  enjoyments  ol 
country  life.  Our  rural  residences,  evincing  that  love  of 
the  beautiful  and  the  picturesque,  which,  combined  with 
solid  comfort,  is  so  attractive  to  the  eye  of  every  beholder, 
will  not  only  become  sources  of  the  purest  enjoyment  to 
the  refined  minds  of  the  possessors,  but  will  exert  an 
influence  for  the  improvement  in  taste  of  every  class  in 
our  community.  The  ambition  to  build  "  shingle  palaces" 
in  starved  and  meagre  grounds,  we  are  glad  to  see  giving 
way  to  that  more  refined  feeling  which  prefers  a  neat  villa 
or  cottage,  tastily  constructed,  and  surrounded  by  its  proper 
accessories,  of  greater  or  less  extent,  of  verdant  trees  and 
beautiful  shrubbery. 

It  is  gratifying  to  see  the  progressive  improvement  in 
Rural  Architecture,  which  within  a  few  years  past  has 
evinced  itself  in  various  parts  of  the  country,  and  par- 
ticularly on   the   banks  of  the   Hudson  and  Connecticut 


Fig.  58.     Cottage  Residence  of  Thomas  W.  Ludlow,  Esq.,  near  Yoiikers,  N.  V. 


l-'i"  59.     Residence  of  Wasliiuston  Irving,  Esq..  near  Tarrytown.  N  .V. 


400 


KURAL    ARCHITECTURE.  409 

Rivers,  as  well  as  in  the  suburbs  of  our  largest  cities 
Here  and  there,  beautiful  villas  and  cottages  in  the  Italian 
or  old  English  styles,  are  being  erected  by  proprietors  who 
feel  the  pre-eminent  beauty  of  these  modes  for  domestic 
architecture.  And  from  the  rapidity  with  which  improve 
ments  having  just  claims  for  public  favor  advance  in  our 
community,  we  have  every  reason  to  hope  that  our  Rural 
Architecture  will  soon  exhibit  itself  in  a  more  attractive 
and  agreeable  form  than  it  has  hitherto  generally  assumed. 
We  take  pleasure  in  referring  to  a  few  of  these  buildings 
more  in  detail. 

The  cottage  of  Thomas  W.  Ludlow,  Esq.,  near  Yonkers, 
on  the  Hudson  (Fig.  58),  is  one  of  the  most  complete 
examples  on  this  river.  The  interior  is  very  carefully 
and  harmoniously  finished,  the  apartments  are  agreeably 
arranged,  and  the  general  effect  of  the  exterior  is  varied 
and  pleasing. 

There  is  scarcely  a  building  or  place  more  replete  with 
interest  in  America,  than  the  cottage  of  Washington 
Irving,  near  Tarrytown  (Fig.  59).  The  "Legend  of 
Sleepy  Hollow,"  so  delightfully  told  in  the  Sketch-Book, 
has  made  every  one  acquainted  with  this  neighborhood, 
and  especially  with  the  site  of  the  present  building,  there 
celebrated  as  the  "  Van  Tassel  House,"  one  of  the  most 
secluded  and  delightful  nooks  on  the  banks  of  the  Hudson. 
With  characteristic  taste,  Mr.  Irving  has  chosen  this  spot, 
the  haunt  of  his  early  days,  since  rendered  classic  ground 
by  his  elegant  pen,  and  made  it  his  permanent  residence. 
The  house  of  "  Baltus  Van  Tassel"  has  been  altered  and 
rebuilt  in  a  quaint  style,  partaking  somewhat  of  the 
English  cottage  mode,  but  retaining  strongly  marked 
symptoms  of  its  Dutch  origin      The  quaint  old  weather 


410  LANDSCAPE    G A1!D^!^'ING. 

cocks  and  finials,  the  crow-stepped  gables,  and  the  hall 
paved  with  Dutch  tiles,  are  among  the  ancient  and 
venerable  ornaments  of  the  houses  of  the  original 
settlers  of  Manhattan,  now  almost  extinct  among  us. 
There  is  also  a  quiet  keeping  in  the  cottage  and  th 
grounds  around  it,  that  assists  in  making  up  the  charm 
of  the  whole  ;  the  gently  swelling  slope  reaching  down 
to  the  Vv"ater's  edge,  bordered  by  prettily  wooded  ravines 
through  which  a  brook  meanders  pleasantly ;  and  thread- 
ed by  foot-paths  ingeniously  contrived,  so  as  sometimes 
to  afford  secluded  walks,  and  at  others  to  allow  fine 
vistas  of  the  broad  expanse  of  river  scenery.  The 
cottage  itself  is  now  charmingly  covered  with  ivy  and 
climbing  roses,  and  embosomed  in  thickets  of  shrubbery. 

Mr.  Sheldon's  residence  (Fig.  60),  in  the  same  neigh- 
borhood, furnishes  us  with  another  example  of  the  Rural 
Gothic  mode,  worth  the  study  of  the  amateur.  Captain 
Perry's  spirited  cottage,  near  Sing  Sing,  partakes  of  the 
same  features  :  and  we  might  add  numerous  other  cottages 
now  building,  or  in  contemplation,  which  show  how  fast 
the  feeling  for  something  more  expressive  and  picturesque 
is  making  progress  among  us. 

Mr.  Warren's  residence  at  Troy,  N.  Y.  (Fig.  61),  is 
a  very  pretty  example  of  the  English  cottage,  elegantly 
finished  internally  as  well  as  externally.  A  situation  in 
a  valley,  embosomed  with  luxuriant  trees,  would  have 
given  this  building  a  more  appropriate  and  charming 
air  than  its  present  one,  which,  however,  affords  a 
magnificent  prospect  of  the  surrounding  country. 

It  is  the  common  practice  here  to  place  a  portion  of 
what  are  called  the  doinestic  offices,  as  the  kitchen 
pantries,    etc.,    in    the    basement    story    of    the    hou.se. 


^>m0^     III    \  ii 


Fis.  (50.     Residence  of  H.  Siieklon,  Ksq..  neav  Tarrytowii,  N.  V 


Fig.  Gl.     Mr.  Wan-en's  Cottage,  near  Troy,  N  'S' 
410 


RURAL    ARCHITECTURE.  411 

•Jirectly  beneath  the  Uving  rooms.  This  has  partly 
arisen  from  the  circumstance  of  the  compara.tive  economy 
of  this  method  of  constructing  tliem  under  the  same 
roof;  and  partly  from  the  difficulty  of  adding  v/ings  to 
the  main  building  for  those  purposes,  which  will  not 
mar  the  simplicity  and  elegance  of  a  Grecian  villa.  In 
the  better  class  of  houses  in  England,  the  domestic 
offices,  which  include  the  kitchen  and  its  appurtenances, 
and  also  the  stable,  coach-house,  harness-room,  etc.,  are 
in  the  majority  of  cases  attached  to  the  main  body  of 
the  building  on  one  side.  The  great  advantage  of 
having  all  these  conveniences  on  the  same  floor  with 
the  principal  rooms,  and  communicating  in  such  a  way 
as  to  be  easily  accessible  at  all  times  without  going  into 
the  open  air,  is  undeniable.  It  must  also  be  admitted  that 
these  domestic  offices,  extending  out  from  the  main 
building,  partly  visible  and  partly  concealed  by  trees  and 
foliage,  add  much  to  the  extent  and  importance  of  a  villa 
or  mansion  in  the  country.  In  the  old  English  style  these 
appendages  are  made  to  unite  happily  with  the  building, 
which  is  in  itself  irregular.  Pictiiresque  effect  is  certainly 
increased  by  thus  extending  the  pile  and  increasing  the 
variety  of  its  outline. 

A  blind  partiality  for  any  one  style  in  building  is  detri- 
mental to  the  progress  of  improvement,  both  in  taste  and 
comfort.  The  variety  of  means,  habits,  and  local  feelings, 
will  naturally  cause  many  widely  different  tastes  to  arise 
among  us  ;  and  it  is  only  by  the  means  of  a  number  of 
distinct  styles,  that  this  diversity  of  tastes  can  be  accom- 
modated. There  will  always  be  a  large  class  of  individuals 
n  every  country  who  prefer  a  plain  square  house  because 
t  is  more  economical,  and  because  they  have  little  feelmg 


412  LANDSCAPE    GAKDENING. 

for  architectural,  or,  indeed,  any  other  species  of  beauty. 
But  besides  such,  there  will  always  be  found  some  men  of 
finer  natures,  who  have  a  sympathetic  appreciation  of  the 
beautiful  in  nature  and  art.  Among  these,  the  classical 
scholar  and  gentleman  may,  from  association  and  the  love 
of  antiquity,  prefer  a  villa  in  the  Grecian  or  Roman  style 
He  who  has  a  passionate  love  of  pictures  and  especially 
fine  landscapes,  will  perhaps,  very  naturally,  prefer  the 
modern  Itahan  style  for  a  country  residence.  The  wealthy 
proprietor,  either  from  the  romantic  and  chivalrous  asso- 
ciations connected  with  the  baronial  castle,  or  from  desire 
to  display  his  own  resources,  may  indulge  his  fancy  in 
erecting  a  castellated  dwelling.  The  gentleman  who 
wishes  to  realize  the  heau  ideal  of  a  genuine  old  English 
country  residence,  with  its  various  internal  comforts,  and 
its  spirited  exterior,  may  establish  himself  in  a  Tudor  villa 
or  mansion ;  and  the  lover  of  nature  and  rural  life,  who, 
with  more  limited  means,  takes  equal  interest  in  the  beauty 
of  his  grounds  or  garden  (however  small)  and  his  house — 
who  is  both  an  admirer  of  that  kind  of  beauty  called  the 
picturesque,  and  has  a  lively  perception  of  the  eflfect  of  a 
happy  adaptation  of  buildings  to  the  landscape, — such  a 
person  will  very  naturally  make  choice  of  the  rural  cottage 
style. 


'Entrance  Lodges  are  not  only  handsome  architectural 
objects  in  the  scenery  of  country  residences  of  large  size, 
out  are  in  many  cases  exceedingly  convenient,  both  to  the 
family  and  the  guests  or  visitors  having  frequent  ingress 
and  egress.  The  entrance  lodge  may  further  be  considered 
a  matter  strictly  useful,  in  serving  as  the  dwelling  of  the 


RURAL    ARCHITECTURE.  413 

gardener  or  farmer  and  his  family.  In  this  point  of  view, 
arrangements  for  the  comfort  and  convenience  of  the 
inmates  should  be  regarded  as  more  important  than  the 
fanciful  decoration  of  the  exterior — as  no  exterior,  however 
charming,  can,  to  a  reflective  and  well  regulated  mind, 
apologize  for  contracted  apartments,  and  imperfect  light 
and  ventilation,  in  human  habitations. 

Among  the  numerous  entrance  lodges  which  we  remember 
to  have  seen  in  the  United  States,  we  scarcely  recall  a  single 
example  where  the  means,  or  rather  the  facility,  of  opening 
and  shutting  the  gate  itself,  has  been  sufficiently  considered. 
Most  generally  the  lodge  is  at  too  great  a  distance  from  the 
gate,  consuming  too  much  time  in  attendance,  and  exposing 
the  persons  attending,  generally  women  or  children,  to  the 
inclemencies  of  the  weather.  Besides  this,  service  of  this 
kind  is  less  cheerfully  performed  in  this  country  than  in 
Europe,  from  the  very  simple  reason  of  the  greater  equality 
of  conditions  here,  and  therefore  everything  which  tends 
to  lessen  labor,  is  worthy  of  being  taken  into  account. 

For  these  reasons  we  would  place  the  gate  very  near  the 
lodge ;  it  would  be  preferable  if  it  were  part  of  the  same 
architectural  composition :  and  if  possible  adopt  the  con- 
trivance now  in  use  at  some  places  abroad,  by  which  the 
gate,  being  hung  nearest  the  building,  may  be  opened  by 
the  occupant  without  the  latter  being  seen,  or  being 
scarcely  obliged  to  leave  his  or  her  employment.*     This 

*  In  Fig.  62,  is  shown  the  section  of  a  gate  arranged  upon  this  plan.  At 
the  bottom  of  the  hanging  pest  of  the  gate,  is  a  bevelled  iron  pinion,  that  works 
into  another  pinion,  h,  at  the  end  of  the  horizontal  shaft,  a,  which  shaft  is  fixed 
in  a  square  box  or  tunnel  under  the  road.  The  part  to  the  right  of  the  partition 
line,  /,  is  the  interior  of  the  gate-keeper's  house  ;  and  by  turning  the  winch,  e, 
the  upright  shaft,  c,  is  put  in  motion,  which  moves  by  means  of  the  bcTelled 
pinions,  g,  d,  the  shaft  a,  and  therefore,  through  d,  the  back  post  of  the  gate. 


U4 


LANDSCAPE    GARDENING. 


is  certainly  the  ultimatum  of  improvements  in  gate  lodges  ; 
and  where  it  cannot  be  attained,  something  may  still  be 
done  towards  amelioration,  by  placing  the  gate  within  a 
convenient  distance,  instead  of  half  a  dozen  rods  apart 
from  the  lodge,  as  is  frequently  done. 

That  the  entrance  lodge  should  correspond  in  style  with 
the  mansion,  is  a  maxim  insisted  upon  by  all  writers  on 
Rural  Architecture.  Where  the  latter  is  built  in  a  mixed 
style,  there  is  more  latitude  allowed  in  the  choice  of  forms 
for  the  lodge,  which  may  be  considered  more  as  a  thing  by 
itself.  But  where  the  dwelling  is  a  strictly  architectural 
composition,  the  lodge  should  correspond  in  style,  and  bear 
evidence  of  emanating  from  the  same  mind.  A  variation 
of  the  same  style  may  be  adopted  with  pleasing  effect,  as  a 


[Fig.  62.    Plan  for  opening  the  gate  from  the  interior  of  the  Lodge.] 


lodge  in  the  form  of  the  old  English  cottage  for  a  castellated 
niansion,  or  a  Doric  lodge  for  a  Corinthian  villa  ;  but  never 
two  distinct  styles  on  the  same  place  (a  Gothic  gate-house 
and  a  Grecian  residence)  without  producing  in  minds 
imbued  with  correct  principles  a  feeling  of  incongruity. 
A  certain  correspondence  in  size  is  also  agreeable ;  where 
the   dwelling   of  the  proprietor  is  simply  an  ornamenta! 

wliich  is  opened  and  phut  by  the  motion  of  the  winch,  without  obliging  tne 
Bxmates  to  leave  the  house. 


RURAL    ARCHITECTURE. 


415 


cottage,  the  lodge,  if  introduced,  should  be  more  simple  and 
unostentatious  ;  and  even  where  the  house  is  magnificent, 
the  lodge  should  rather  be  below  the  general  air  of  the 
residence  than  above  it,  that  the  stranger  who  enters  at  a 
showy  and  striking  lodge  may  not  be  disappointed  in  the 
want  of  correspondence  between  it  and  the  remaining 
portions  of  the  demesne. 


<rsi^0^t^^^^^^^^^^^-^ 


[Fig.  63.    The  New  Gate  Lodge  at  Blithewood.] 

The  gate-lodge  at  Blithewood,  on  the  Hudson,  the  seat 
of  R.  Donaldson,  Esq.,  is  a  simple  and  effective  cottage  in 
the  bracketed  style — octagonal  in  its  form,  and  very  com- 
pactly arranged  internally. 

Nearly  all  the  fine  seats  on  the  North  river  have  entrance 

lodges — often  simple   and  but  little  ornamented,  or  only 

—  -  pleasingly  embowered  in 

foliage ;  but,  occasional- 
y,  highly  picturesque  and 
striking  in  appearance. 

A  view  of  the  pretty 
gate  lodge  at  Nether- 
wood,  Duchess  County 
N.  Y.,  the  seat  of  Gardi 

f  Fig.  64.    The  Gate  Lodge  at  Netherwood.j 


416 


LANDSCAPE    GARDENING. 


ner  Rowland,  Esq.,  is  shown  in  Fig.  G4.  Half  a  mile 
uorth  of  this  seat  is  an  interesting  lodge  in  the  Swiss 
style,  at  the  entrance  to  the  residence  of  Mrs.  Sheafe. 

In  Fig.  65,  is  shown  an  elevation  of  a  lodge  in  the  Italian 
style,  with  projecting  eaves  supported  by  cantilevers  or 
brackets,  round-headed  windows  with  balconies,  character- 
istic porch,  and  other  leading  feaj,ares  of  this  style. 


LPig.  65.    Gate  Lodge  in  the  Italian  style.] 


Mr.  Repton  has  stated  it  as  a  principle  in  the  composition 
of  residences,  that  neither  the  house  should  be  visible  from 
the  entrance  nor  the  entrance  from  the  house,  if  there  be 
sutficient  distance  between  them  to  make  the  approach 
through  varied  grounds,  or  a  park,  and  not  immediately 
into  a  court-yard. 

Entrance  lodges,  and  indeed  all  small  ornamental  build- 
ings, should  be  supported,  and  partially  concealed,  by  trees 
and  foliage  ;  naked  walls,  in  the  country,  hardly  admitting 
of  an  apology  in  any  case,  but  especially  when  the  building 
is  ornamental,  and  should  be  considered  part  of  a  whole, 
grouping  with  other  objects  in  rural  landscape. 


RURAL    ARCHITECTURE. 


417 


Note. — To  readers  who  desire  to  cultivate  a  taste  lor  rural  architecture,  we 
take  pleasure  in  recommending  the  following  productions  of  the  English  pres*. 
Loudon's  Encyclopedia  of  Cottage,  Farm,  and  Villa  Architecture,  a  voIum« 
replete  with  information  on  every  branch  of  the  subject ;  Robinson's  Rural 
Architecture  and  Designs  for  Ornamental  Villas;  Lugar's  Villa  Archi- 
tecture ;  Goodwin's  Rural  Architecture ;  Hunt's  Picturesque  Domestic 
Architecture,  and  Examples  of  Tudor  Architecture  ;  Pugin's  Examples  of 
Gothic  Architecture,  etc.  The  most  successful  American  architects  in  this 
branch  of  the  art,  with  whom  we  are  acquainted,  are  Alexander  J.  Davis,  Esq., 
of  New  York,  and  John  Notman,  Esq.,  of  Philadelphia. 


%,<^E, 


[Fig.  66.  The  Gardener's  House,  Blithewood.] 


91 


418 


LANDSCAPE    fJARDENlNG. 


SECTION   X. 


KMBELLISHMENTS  ;    ARCHITECTURAL,     RUSTIC,   AND    FLORAL. 

Value  of  a  proper  connexion  between  the  house  and  grounds.  Beauty  of  the  architectural 
terrace,  and  its  application  to  villas  and  cott;iges.  Use  of  vases  of  ditfercnt  descriptions 
Sun-dials.  Architectnral  flower-garden.  Irregular  flower-garden.  French  flower-garden. 
English  flower-garden.  General  remarks  on  this  subject.  Selection  of  showy  plants, 
flowering  in  succession.  Arrangement  of  the  shrubbery,  and  selection  of  choice  shrubs. 
The  conservatory  or  green-house.  Open  and  covered  seats.  Pavilions.  Rustic  seats. 
Prospect  tower.  Bridges.  Rocltwork.  Fountains  of  various  descriptions.  Judicious 
introduction  of  decorations. 

Nature,  assuming  a  more  lovely  face, 
•  Borrowing  a  beauty  from  the  works  of  grace. 

COWPER. 


Each  odorous  bushy  shrub 

Fenced  up  the  verdant  wall ;  each  beauteous  flower  ; 
Iris  all  hues,  Roses  and  Jessamine 
Rear'd  high  their  flourished  heads  betwe<}n. 
And  wrought  Mosaic. 

MlLfOK. 


N  our  finest  places,  or  those 
country  seats  where  much  of 
the  polish  of  pleasure  ground 
or  park  scenery  is  kept  up,  one  of  the  most  striking  defects 
is  the  want  of  "  union  between  the  house  and  the  grounds." 


EMBELLISHMENTS.  419 

We  are  well  aware  that  from  the  comparative  rarity  of  any- 
thing like  a  highly  kept  place  in  this  country,  the  want  of 
this,  which  is  indeed  like  the  last  finish  to  the  residence,  is 
scarcely  felt  at  all.  But  this  only  })roves  the  infant  state 
of  Landscape  Gardening  here,  and  the  little  attention  that 
has  been  paid  to  the  highest  details  of  the  art. 

If  our  readers  will  imagine,  with  us,  a  pretty  villa,  con- 
veniently arranged  and  well  constructed,  in  short,  complete 
in  itself  as  regards  its  architecture,  and  at  the  same  time, 
properly  placed  in  a  smooth  well  kept  lawn,  studded  with 
groups  and  masses  of  fine  trees,  they  will  have  an  example 
often  to  be  met  with,  of  a  place,  in  the  graceful  school  of 
design,  about  which,  however,  there  is  felt  to  be  a  certain 
incongruity  between  the  house,  a  highly  artificial  object, 
and  the  surrounding  grounds,  where  the  prevailing  ex- 
pression in  the  latter  is  that  of  beautiful  nature. 

Let  us  suppose,  for  further  illustration,  the  same  house 
and  grounds  with  a  few  additions.  The  house  now  rising 
directly  out  of  the  green  turf  which  encompasses  it,  we 
will  surround  by  a  raised  platform  or  terrace,  wide  enough 
for  a  dry,  firm  walk,  at  all  seasons ;  on  the  top  of  the  wall 
or  border  of  this  terrace,  we  will  form  a  handsome  parapet, 
or  balustrade,  some  two  or  three  feet  high,  the  details  of 
which  shall  be  in  good  keeping  with  the  house,  whether 
Grecian  or  Gothic.  On  the  coping  of  this  parapet,  if  the 
house  is  in  the  classical  style,  we  will  find  suitable  places, 
at  proper  intervals,  for  some  handsome  urns,  vases,  etc. 
On  the  drawing-room  side  of  the  house,  that  is,  the  side 
towards  which  the  best  room  or  rooms  look,  we  will  place 
the  ilower-garden,  into  which  we  descend  from  the  terrace 
by  a  few  steps.  This  flower-garden  may  be  simply  what 
its  name  denotes,  a  place  exclusively  devoted  to  the  culti- 


420  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

vation  of  flowers,  or  (if  the  house  is  not  in  a  very  plain 
style,  admitting  of  little  enrichment)  it  may  be  an  archi- 
tectural flower-garden.  In  the  latter  case,  intermingled 
with  the  flowers,  are  to  be  seen  vases,  fountains,  and  some- 
times even  statues ;  the  effect  of  the  fine  colors  and  deep 
foliage  of  the  former,  heightened  by  contrast  with  the 
sculptured  forms  of  the  latter. 

If  our  readers  will  now  step  back  a  few  rods  with  us  and 
take  a  second  view  of  our  villa  residence,  with  its 
supposed  harmonizing  accessories,  we  think  they  can  hardly 
fail  to  be  impressed  at  once  with  the  great  improvement 
of  the  whole.  The  eye  now,  instead  of  witnessing  the 
sudden  termination  of  the  architecture  at  the  base  of  the 
house,  where  the  lawn  commences  as  suddenly,  will  be  at 
once  struck  with  the  increased  variety  and  richness 
imparted  to  the  whole  scene,  by  the  addition  of  the  archi- 
tectural and  garden  decorations.  The  mind  is  led 
gradually  down  from  the  house,  with  its  projecting  porch 
or  piazzas,  to  the  surrounding  terrace  crowned  with  its 
beautiful  vases,  and  from  thence  to  the  architectural 
flower-garden,  interspersed  with  similar  ornaments.  The 
various  play  of  light  afforded  by  these  sculptured  forms  on 
the  terrace  ;  the  projections  and  recesses  of  the  parapet, 
with  here  and  there  some  climbing  plants  luxuriantly 
enwreathing  it,  throwing  out  the  mural  objects  in  stronger 
relief,  and  connecting  them  pleasantly  with  the  verdure  of 
the  turf  beneath  ;  the  still  further  rambling  off'  of  vases, 
etc.,  into  the  brilliant  flower-garden,  which,  through  these 
ornaments,  maintains  an  avowed  connexion  with  the 
architecture  of  the  house;  all  this,  we  think  it  cannot  be 
denied,  forms  a  rich  setting  to  the  architecture,  and  unites 


EMBELLISHMENTS.  421 

agreeably  the  forms  of  surrounding  nature  with  the  more 
regular  and  uniform  outlines  of  the  building. 

The  effect  will  not  be  less  pleasing  if  viewed  from 
another  point  of  view,  viz.  the  terrace,  or  from  the  apart- 
ments of  the  house  itself  From  either  of  these  points,  the 
various  objects  enumerated,  will  form  a  rich  foreground 
to  the  pleasure-grounds  or  park — a  matter  which  painters 
well  know  how  to  estimate,  as  a  landscape  is  incomplete 
and  unsatisfactory  to  them,  however  beautiful  the  middle 
or  distant  points,  unless  there  are  some  strongly  marked 
objects  in  the  foreground.  In  fine,  the  intervention  of 
these  elegant  accompaniments  to  our  houses  prevents  us, 
as  Mr.  Hope  has  observed,  "  from  launching  at  once  from 
the  threshold  of  the  symmetric  mansion,  in  the  most  abrupt 
manner,  into  a  scene  wholly  composed  of  the  most 
unsymmetric  and  desultory  forms  of  mere  nature,  which 
are  totally  out  of  character  with  the  mansion,  whatever 
may  be  its  style  of  architecture  ami  furnishing."* 

The  highly  decorated  terrace,  as  we  have  here  supposed 
it,  would,  it  is  evident,  be  in  unison  with  villas  of  a  some- 
what superior  style ;  or,  in  other  words,  the  amount  of 
enrichment  bestowed  upon  exterior  decoration  near  the 
house,  should  correspond  to  the  style  of  art  evinced  in  the 
exterior  of  the  mansion  itself  An  humble  cottage  with 
sculptured  vases  on  its  terrace  and  parapet,  would  be  in 
bad  taste  ;  but  any  Grecian,  Roman,  or  Italian  villa,  where 
a  moderate  degree  of  exterior  ornament  is  visible,  or  a 
Gothic  villa  of  the  better  class,  will  allow  the  additional 
enrichment  of  the  architectural  terrace  and  its  ornaments. 
Indeed  the  terrace  itself,  in  so  far  as  it  denotes  a  raised  dry 

•  Essay  on  Ornamental  Gardenins,  by  Thomas  Hope. 


422  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

platform  around  the  house,  is  a  suitable  and  appropriate 
appendage  to  every  dwelling,  of  whatever  class. 

The  width  of  a  terrace  around  a  house  may  vary  from 
five  to  twenty  feet,  or  more,  in  proportion  as  the  building 
is  of  greater  or  less  importance.  The  surrounding  wall, 
which  supports  its  level,  may  also  vary  from  one  to  eight 
feet.  The  terrace,  in  the  better  class  of  English  residences, 
is  paved  with  smooth  flag  stones,  or  in  place  of  this,  a  sur- 
face of  firm  well-rolled  gravel  is  substituted.  In  residences 
where  a  parapet  or  balustrade  would  be  thought  too 
expensive,  a  square  stone  or  plinth  is  placed  at  the  angles 
or  four  corners  of  the  terrace,  which  serves  as  the  pedestal 
for  a  vase  or  urn.  When  a  more  elegant  and  finished 
appearance  is  desirable,  the  parapet  formed  of  open  work 
of  stone,  or  wood  painted  in  imitation  of  stone,  rises  above 
the  level  of  the  terrace  two  or  three  feet  with  a  suitably 
bold  coping.  On  this  vases  may  be  placed,  not  only  at  the 
corners,  but  at  regular  intervals  of  ten,  twenty,  or  more 
feet.  We  have  alluded  to  the  good  eflfect  of  climbers,  here 
and  there  planted,  and  suflfered  to  intermingle  their  rich 
foliage  with  the  open  work  of  the  parapet  and  its  crowning 
ornaments.  In  the  climate  of  Philadelphia,  the  Giant  Ivy, 
with  its  thick  sculpturesque  looking  masses  of  foliage, 
would  be  admirably  suited  to  this  purpose.  Or  the  Vir- 
ginia Creeper  (the  Ivy  of  America)  may  take  its  place  in 
any  other  portion  of  the  Union.  To  these  we  may  add, 
the  Chinese  twining  Honeysuckle  (Lonicera  flexuosa)  and 
the  Sweet-scented  Clematis,  both  deliciously  fragrant  in 
their  blossoms,  with  many  other  fine  climbers  which  will 
readily  recur  to  the  amateur. 

There  can  be  no  reason  why  the  smallest  cottage,  if  its 
occupant  be  a  person  of  taste  should  not  have  a  terrace 


EMBELLISHMENTS.  423 

decorated  in  a  suitable  manner.  This  is  easily  and  cheapl} 
effected  by  placing  neat  flower-pots  on  the  parapet,  oi 
border  and  angles  of  the  terrace,  with  suitable  plants  grow- 
ing in  therr..  For  this  purpose,  the  American  or  Century 
Aloe,  a  fo:7i\al  architectural-looking  plant,  is  exceedingly 
well  adapted,  as  it  always  preserves  neai'ly  the 
same  appearance.  Or  in  place  of  this,  the 
Yuccas,  or  "  Adam\-  needle  and  thread," 
which  have  something  of  the  same  character, 
while  they  also  produce  beautiful  heads  of 
"■]  flowers,  may  be  chosen.  Yucca  Jiaccida  is  a 
fine  hardy  species,  which  would  look   well  -[r, 

in  such  a  situation.     An  aloe  in  a  common  \W'Ui 

flower   pot    is    shown   in    Fig.    67 ;    and    a  ^S\if' 

Yucca    in    an    ornamental    flower-pot    in  -  ^^| 

Fig.  68.  [Fig.  63] 

Where  there  is  a  terrace  ornamented  with  urns  or  vases, 
and  the  proprietor  wishes  to  give  a  corresponding  air  of 
elegance  to  his  grounds,  vases,  sundials,  etc.,  may  be  placed 
in  various  appropriate  situations,  not  only  in  the  architec- 
tural flower-garden,  but  on  the  lawn,  and  through  the 
pleasure-grounds  in  various  different  points  near  the  house. 
We  say  near  the  house,  because  we  think  so  highly  arti- 
ficial and  architectural  an  object  as  a  sculptured  vase,  is 
never  correctly  introduced  unless  it  appear  in  some  way 
connected  with  buildings,  or  objects  of  a  like  architectural 
character.  To  place  a  beautiful  vase  in  a  distant  part  of 
the  grounds,  where  there  is  no  direct  allusion  to  art,  and 
where  it  is  accompanied  only  by  natural  objects,  as  the 
overhanging  trees  and  the  sloping  turf,  is  in  a  measure 
doing  violence  to  our  reason  or  taste,  by  bringing  two 
objocl.^  so  strongly  contrasted,  in  direct  union.     But  when 


424  LANDSCAPE    G  VRDENING. 

we  see  a  statue  or  a  vase  placed  in  any  part  of  the  grounds 
where  a  near  view  is  obtained  of  the  house  (and  its  accom- 
panying statues  or  vases),  the  whole  is  accounted  for,  and 
we  feel  the  distant  vase  to  be  only  a  part  of,  or  rather  a 
repetition  of  the  same  idea, — in  other  words,  that  it  forms 
part  of  a  whole,  harmonious  and  consistent. 

Vases  of  real  stone,  as  marble  or  granite,  are  decorations 
of  too  costly  a  kind  ever  to  come  into  general  use  among 
us.  Vases,  however,  of  equally  beautiful  forms,  are  manu- 
factured of  artificial  stone,  of  fine  pottery,  or  of  cast  iron, 
which  have  the  same  eflTect,  and  are  of  nearly  equal  dura- 
bility, as  garden  decorations. 

A  vase  should  never,  in  the  open  air,  be  set  down  upon 
the  ground  or  grass,  without  being  placed  upon  a  firm  base 
of  some  description,  either  a  plinth  or  a  pedestal.  Without 
a  base  of  this  kind  it  has  a  temporary  look,  as  if  it  had  been 
left  there  by  mere  accident,  and  without  any  intention  of 
permanence.  Placing  it  upon  a  pedestal,  or  square  plinth 
(block  of  stone),  gives  it  a  character  of  art,  at  once  more 
dignified  and  expressive  of  stability.  Besides  this,  the 
pedestal  in  reality  serves  to  preserve  the  vase  in  a  perpen- 
dicular position,  as  well  as  to  expose  it  fairly  to  the  eye, 
which  could  not  be  the  case  were  it  put  down,  without  any 
preparation,  on  the  bare  turf  or  gravel. 

Figure  69  is  a  Gothic,  and  Figures  70,  71,  are 
Grecian  vases,  commonly  manufactured  in  plaster 
in  our  cities,  but  which  are  also  made  of  Roman 
cement.  They  are  here  shown  upon  suitable 
pedestals — a  being  the  vase,  and  h  the  pedestal. 
^f^  These  with  many  other  elegant  vases  and  urns  are 
manufactured  in  an  artificial  stone,  as  durable  as 

;Fig.  69.] 

marble,  by  Austin  of  London,  and  together  with  a  great 


EMBELLISHMENTS. 


4Sj5 


vai'iety  of  other  beautiful  sculpturesque  decorations,  may 
be  imported  at  very  reasonable  prices. 

Figures  70,  71,  are  beautiful  vases  of  pottery  ware 
manufactured  by  Peake,  of  Staffordshire — and  which  may 
be  imported  cheaply,  or  will  be  made  to  order  at  the  Sala- 
mander works,  in  New  York.  These  vases,  when  colored 
4t^..it>t<v.:<L>j.^,>.x^.j-,  to  imitate  marble  or  other  stone,  are  ex- 
tremely durable  and  very  ornamental. 
As  yet,  we  are  unable  to  refer  our  readers 
to  any  manufactory  here,  where  these 
articles  are  made  in  a  manner  fully  equal 
to  the  English ;  but  we  are  satisfied,  it  is 
only  necessary  that  the  taste  for  such 
articles  should  increase,  and  the  conse- 
quent demand,  to  induce  our  artisans  to 
[Fig.  70.]  produce   them    of  equal  beauty  and  of 

greater  cheapness. 

At  Blithewood,  the  seat  of  R.  Donaldson,  Esq.,  on  the 
Hudson,  a  number  of  exquisite  vases  may  ^^, 
be  seen  in  the  pleasure-grounds,  which  are 
cut  in  Maltese  stone.  These  were  imported 
by  the  proprietor,  direct  from  Malta,  at  very 
moderate  rates,  and  are  not  only  ornamen- 
tal, but  very  durable.  Their  color  is  a 
warm  shade  of  grey  which  harmonizes 
agreeably  with  the  surround- 
ing vegetation. 

Large   vases   are  sometimes         [Fig.7i.] 
filled  with  earth  and  planted  with  choice  flow- 
ering plants,  and  the  effect  of  the  blossoms  and 
green  leaves  growing  out  of  these  handsome 
[Fig,  72.]      receptacles,   is   at  least   unique   and  striking 


426 


LANDSCAPE    GARDENING. 


Loudon  objects  to  it  in  the  case  of  an  elegant  tjcuip 
tured  vase,  "because  it  is  reducing  a  work  of  art  to  the 
level  of  a  mere  garden  flower-pot,  and  dividing  the 
attention  between  the  beauty  of  the  form  of  the  vase 
and  of  its  sculptured  ornaments,  and  that  of  the  plant 
which  it  contains."  This  criticism  is  a  just  one  in  its 
general  application,  especially  when  vases 
are  considered  as  architectural  decorations. 
Occasional  deviations,  however,  may  be  per- 
mitted, for  the  sake  of  producing  variety, 
especially  in  the  case  of  vases  used  as  deco- 
rations in  the  flower-garden. 

A  very  pretty  and  fanciful  substitute  for 
the  sculptured  vase,  and  which  may  take  its 
place  in  the  picturesque  landscape,  may  be 
found  in  vases  or  baskets  of  rustic  work,  con-  [Fig.  73.] 
itructed  of  the  branches  and  sections  of  trees  with  the 
bark  attached.  Figure  74  is  a  re- 
presentation of  a  pleasing  rustic  vase 
which  we  have  constructed  without 
^^  difficulty.  A  tripod  of  branches  of  trees 
forms  the  pedestal.  An  octagonal  box 
serves  as  the  body  or  frame  of  the  vase  ; 
on  this,  pieces  of  birch  and  hazel  (small 
Fig.  74.]  split  limbs  covered   with  the  bark)  are 

nailed  closely,  so  as  to  form  a  sort  of  mosaic  covering  to  the 
whole  exterior.  Ornaments  of  this  kind,  which  may  be 
made  by  the  amateur  with  the  assistance  of  a  common 
carpenter,  are  very  suitable  for  the  decoration  of  the 
grounds  and  flower-gardens  of  cottages  or  picturesque 
villas.     An    endless  variety    of   forms   will    occur    to  an 


J 


EMBELLISHMENTS.  42? 

ingenious  artist  in  rustic  work,  which  he  may  call  in  to  the 

embellishment  of  rural   scenes,  without  taxing  his  purse 

heavily. 

Sundials  (Fig.  75)  are  among  the  oldest  decorations  foi 

the  garden  and  grounds,  and  there  are  scarcely  any  which 
we  think  more  suitable.  They  are  not  merely 
decorative,  but  have  also  a^  useful  character,  and 
may  therefore  be  occasionally  placed  in  distant 
parts  of  the  grounds,  should  a  favorite  walk  ter- 
minate there.  When  we  meet  daily  in  our  walks 
for  a  number  of  years,  with  one  of  these  silent 
monitors  of  the  flight  of  time,  we  become  in  a 
degree  attached  to  it,  and  really  look  upon  it  as 


Y"~r\      gifted  with  a  species  of  intelligence,  beaming  out 


when  the  sunbeams  smile  upon  its  dial-plate. 


[Fig.  75.]  The    Architectural     Flower-garden,     as    we 

have  just  remarked,  has  generally  a  direct  connexion  with 
the  house,  at  least  on  one  side  by  the  terrace.  It  may  be 
of  greater  or  less  size,  from  twenty  feet  square  to  half  an 
acre  in  extent.  The  leading  characteristics  of  this  species 
of  flower-garden,  are  the  regular  lines  and  forms  employed 
in  its  beds  and  walks.  The  flowers  are  generally  planted 
in  beds  in  the  form  of  circles,  octagons,  squares,  etc.,  the 
centre  of  the  garden  being  occupied  by  an  elegant  vase,  a 
sundial,  or  that  still  finer  ornament,  a  fountain,  or  jet  d'eau. 
In  various  parts  of  the  garden,  along  the  principal  walks, 
or  in  the  centre  of  parterres,  pedestals  supporting  vases, 
urns,  or  handsome  flower-pots  with  plants,  are  placed. 
When  a  highly  marked  character  of  art  is  intended,  a 
balustrade  or  parapet,  resembling  that  of  the  terrace  to 
which  it  is  connected,  is  continued  round  the  whole  oi 


428 


LANDSCAPE    GARDENING. 


this  garden.  Or  in  other  cases  the  garden  is  surrounciuj 
by  a  thicket  of  shrubs  and  low  trees,  partly  concealing  it 
from  the  eye  on  all  sides  but  one. 

It  is  evident  that  the  architectural  flower-garden  is 
superior  to  the  general  flower-garden,  as  an  appendage 
to  the  house,  on  two  accounts.  First,  because,  as  we 
have  already  shown,  it  serves  an  admirable  purpose 
in  effecting  a  harmonious  union  between  the  house  and  the 
grounds.  And  secondly,  because  we  have  both  the  rich 
verdure  and  gay  blossoms  of  the  flowering  plants,  and  the 
more  permanent  beauty  of  sculptured  forms ;  the  latter 
heightening  the  effect  of  the  former  by  contrast,  as  well  as 
by  the  relief  they  afford  the  eye  in  masses  of  light,  amid 
surrounding  verdure. 

There  are  several  varieties  of  general  flower-gardens, 
which  may  be  formed  near  the  house.  Among  these  we 
will  only  notice  the  irregular  ^ower-gsivden,  the  old  French 
flower-garden,  and  the  modern  or  English  flower-garden. 

In  almost  all  the  different  kinds  of  flower-gardens,  two 
methods  of  forming  the  beds  are  observed.  One  is,  to  cut 
the  beds  out  of  the  green  turf,  which  is  ever  afterwards 


fFig.  76.    The  Inegular  Flower-garden.] 


EMBELLISHMENTS.  429 

kept  well-mown  or  cut  for  the  walks,  and  the  edges  pared  ; 
the  other,  to  surround  the  beds  with  edgings  of  verdure,  as 
box,  etc.,  or  some  niore  durable  material,  as  tiles,  or  cut 
stone,  the  walks  between  being  covered  with  gravel.  The 
turf  is  certainly  the  most  agreeable  for  walking  upon  in 
the  heat  of  summer,  and  the  dry  part  of  the  day ;  while 
the  gravelled  flower-garden  affords  a  dry  footing  at  nearly 
all  hours  and  seasons. 

The  irregular  flower-garden  is  surrounded  by  an  irregu- 
lar belt  of  trees  and  ornamental  shrubs  of  the  choicest 
species,  and  the  beds  are  varied  in  outline,  as  well  as 
irregularly  disposed,  sometimes  grouping  together,  some- 
times standing  singly,  but  exhibiting  no  uniformity  of 
arrangement.  An  idea  of  its  general  appearance  may  be 
gathered  from  the  accompanying  sketch  (Fig.  76),  which 
may  be  varied  at  pleasure.  In  it  the  irregular  boundary 
of  shrubs  is  shown  at  a,  the  flower-beds  h,  and  the  walks  e. 

This  kind  of  flower-garden  would  be  a  suitable  accom- 
paniment to  the  house  and  grounds  of  an  enthusiastic 
lover  of  the  picturesque,  whose  residence  is  in  the  Rural 
Gothic  style,  and  whose  grounds  are  also  eminently  varied 
and  picturesque.  Or  it  might  form  a  pretty  termination 
to  a  distant  walk  in  the  pleasure-grounds,  where  it  would 
be  more  necessary  that  the  flower-garden  should  be  in 
keeping  with  the  surrounding  plantations  and  scenery  than 
with  the  house. 

Where  the  flower-garden  is  a  spot  set  apart,  of  any 
regular  outline,  not  of  large  size,  and  especially  where  it  is 
attached  directly  to  the  house,  we  think  the  effect  is  most 
satisfactory  when  the  beds  or  walks  are  laid  out  in  sym- 
metrical forms.  Our  reasons  for  this  are  these  :  the 
flower-garden,   unlike  distant   portions   of   the   pleasure- 


430  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING!. 

ground  scenery,  is  an  appendage  to  the  house,  seen  in  the 
same  view  or  moment  with  it,  and  therefore  should  exhibit 
something  of  tlie  regularity  which  characterizes,  jn  a 
greater  or  less  degree,  all  architectural  compositions  ;  and 
when  a  given  scene  is  so  small  as  to  be  embraced  in  a 
single  glance  of  the  eye,  regular  forms  are  found  to  be 
more  satisfactory  than  irregular  ones,  which,  on  so  small  a 
scale,  are  apt  to  appear  unmeaning. 

The  French  flower-garden  is  the  most  fanciful  of  the 
regular  modes  of  laying  out  the  area  devoted  to  this  purpose. 
The  patterns  or  figures  employed  are  often  highly  intricate, 
and  require  considerable  skill  in  their  formation.  The 
walks  are  either  of  gravel  or  smoothly  shaven  turf,  and  the 
beds  are  filled  with  choice  flowering  plants.  It  is  evident 
that  much  of  the  beauty  of  this  kind  of  flower-garden,  or 
indeed  any  other  where  the  figures  are  regular  and  intri- 
cate, must  depend  on  the  outlines  of  the  beds,  or  pa?'/erres 
of  embroidery,  as  they  are  called,  being  kept  distinct  and 
clear.  To  do  this  effectually,  low  growing  herbaceous 
plants  or  border  flowers,  perennials  and  annuals,  should  be 
chosen,  such  as  will  not  exceed  on  an  average,  one  or  two 
feet  in  height. 

In  the  English  flower-garden,  the  beds  arc  either  in 
symmetrical  forms  and  figures,  or  they  are  characterized 
by  irregular  curved  outlines.  The  peculiarity  of  these 
gardens,  at  present  so  fashionable  in  England,  is,  that  each 
separate  bed  is  planted  with  a  single  variety,  or  at  most 
two  varieties  of  flowers.  Only  the  most  striking  and 
showy  varieties  are  generally  chosen,  and  the  eflfect,  when 
the  selection  is  judicious,  is  highly  brilliant.  Each  bed,  in 
its  season,  presents  a  mass  of  blossoms,  and  the  contrast  of 
rich   colors   is    much    more   striking  than    in    any   other 


EMBELBISIIMENTS. 


401 


arrangement.  No  plants  are  admitted  that  are  shy  bloom- 
ors,  or  which  have  ugly  habits  of  growth,  meagre  or  starved 
toliage  ;  the  aim  being  brilliant  effect,  rather  than  the 
display  of  a  great  variety  of  curious  or  rare  plants.  To 
bring  this  about  more  perfectly,  and  to  have  an  elegant 
show  during  the  whole  season  of  growth,  hyacinths  and 
other  fine  bulbous  roots  occupy  a  certain  portion  of  the 
ueds,  the  intervals  being  filled  with  handsome  herbaceous 
plants,  permanently  planted,  or  with  flowering  annuals  and 
green-house  plants  renewed  every  season. 

To  illustrate  the  mode  of  arranging  the  beds  and  disposing 
the  plants  in  an  English  garden,  we  copy  the  plan  and 
description  of  the  elegant  flower-garden,  on  the  lawn  at 
Droipmore,  the  beds  being  cut  out  of  the  smooth  turf. 

"  The  flower-garden  at  Dropmore  is  shown  in  Fig.  77. 
In  this  the  plants  are  so  disposed,  that  when  in  flower  the 
corresponding  forms  of  the  figure  contain  corresponding 
colored  flowers.  The  following  is  a  list  of  the  plants  which 
occupy  this  figure  during  summer,  with  the  order  in  which 
they  are  disposed  :  and  a  corresponding  enumeration  of  the 
bulbs  and  other  plants  which  occupy  the  beds  during  winter 
and  spring. 


[Fig.  77.    The  Flower-Garden  at  Dropmore.l 


132  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

In   Summer. 

Beds. 

1.  Rosa  Indica  (blush  China),  bordered  with  R.  Semperflorens  flow 

pleno,  and  R.  Indica  minor. 

2.  Pelargonium  inquinans  (Scarlet  Geranium"). 

3.  Verbena  Lamberti. 

4.  Senecio  elegans,  flore  pleno.     (Double  Jacobea.) 

5.  5.     Alonsoa  incisifolia. 

6.  6.     Agathea  excelsis. 

7.  Fuchsia  coccinea  (Lady's  Eardrop),  bordered  with  Double  Prim- 

rose. 

8.  Helitropium  peruvianum. 

9.  Ruellia  formosa. 

10.  Ageratum  mexicanum. 

11.  Dianthus  chinensis  (Indian  Pink),  and  Mignonette. 

12.  Lobelia  splendens. 

13.  Dianthus  satifolius. 

14.  Lobelia  unidentata. 

15.  15.  15.     Choice  herbaceous  plants  not  exceeding  one  foot  sis  incikse 

in  height. 

16.  16.     Gladiolus  eardinalis. 

17.  Pelargonium  lateripis  (oink-flowered  variegated  Ivy  Geranium). 

18.  Anagallis  grandiflora. 

19.  Anagallis  Monelli. 

20.  Pelargonium  coruscans  (Fiery-red  Geranium.) 

21.  Prince  of  Orange  Geranium. 

22.  CEnothera  casspitosa. 

23.  CEnothera  missouriensis  (Missouri  evening  Primrose; . 

24.  Scarlet  flowered  variegated  leaved  Geranium. 

25.  Malope  trifida. 

26.  Lobelia  fulgens. 

27.  Petunia  Phcenicea. 

28.  Commelina  caelestis. 

29.  Cistus  guttatus. 

30.  Campanula  pentagona. 

31.  Four  seasons  Rose,  and  Mignonette. 

32.  Bouvardia  triphylla. 

33.  Double  Nasturtium. 

In  Winter  and  Spring. 
Beds.  , 

1.  Anemone  Coronaria. 

2.  2.     Malcomia  maritima  (Mediterranean  stock). 


EMBELLISHMENTS.  433 

OSDS. 

3  and  4.     Fine  varieties  of  Tulips. 

5.  5.     Double  rocket  Larkspur  (sown  in  autumn). 

6.  6.     Agathea  caelestia. 

7.  Scilla  nutans  (blue  harebell). 

8.  Feathered  Hyacinths. 

9  and  10.     Sweet  scented  Tulips. 

11.  Double  garden  Tulips. 

12.  Single  gesneriana  Tulips. 

13  and  14.     Tritonia  crocata,  and  Tritonia  fenestra,  kept  in  frames  in 
mid-winter. 

15.  15.  15.  15.     Choice  herbaceous  plants  not  exceeding  one  foot  six 

inches  in  height. 

16.  16.     Hyacinths,  double  blue,  plunged  in  pota. 

17.  Hyacinths,  double  red,  do. 

18  and  19.     Hyacinths,  single  blue  variety. 
20  and  21.     Single  white  Hyacinths. 
22  and  23.     Crocus  vernus  and  biflorus. 
24.     Hyacinths,  double  red. 
25  and  26.     Tulips,  double  yellow. 

27.  Hyacinths,  double  white. 

28.  Muscari  botryoides,  (Grape  Hyacinth). 

29.  Oxalis  caprina  (kept  in  frames  in  mid-winter). 

30.  Scilla  verna  (Spring  Harebell). 

31.  Muscari  racemosum,  the  border  of  Viola  tricolor  in  sorts. 

32.  Hyacinths,  double  white. 

33.  Double  rose  Larkspur. 


"  As  a  general  principle  for  regulating  the  plants  in  this 
figure,  the  winter  and  spring  flowers  ought,  as  much  as 
possible,  to  be  of  sorts  which  admit  of  being  in  the  ground 
all  the  year :  and  the  summer  crop  should  be  planted  at 
intervals  between  the  winter  plants.  Or  the  summer  crop, 
having  been  brought  forward  in  pots  under  glass,  or  by 
nightly  protection,  may  be  planted  out  about  the  middle  of 
June,  after  the  winter  plants  in  pots  are  removed.  A 
number  of  hardy  bulbs  ought  to  be  potted  and  plunged  in 
the  beds  in  the  months  of  October  and  November ;  and 
when  out  of  bloom,  in  May  or  June,  removed  to  the  reserve 

28 


434 


LANDSCAPE    GARDENING. 


garden  and  plunged  there,  in  order  to  perfect  their  foliage 
and  mature  their  bulbs  for  the  succeeding  season."* 

There  cannot  be  a  question  that  this  method  of  planting 
the  flower-garden  in  groups  and  masses,  is  productive  of 
by  far  the  most  splendid  effect.  In  England,  where  flower- 
gardens  are  carried  to  their  greatest  perfection,  the  pre- 
ference in  planting  is  given  to  exotics  which  blossom 
constantly  throughout  the  season,  and  which  are  kept  in 
the  green-house  during  winter,  and  turned  out  in  the 
beds  in  the  early  part  of  the  season,  where  they  flower  in 
the  greatest  profusion  until  frost ;  as  Fuchsias,  Salvias, 


[Fig.  78.    English  Fiower-Garden.J 
•  Ency.  of  Gardening,  1000. 


EMBELLISHMENTS.  435 

Lobelias,  Scarlet  Geraniums,  etc.,  etc.*  This  mode  car. 
be  adopted  here  where  a  small  green-house  or  frame  is 
kept.  In  the  absence  of  these,  nearly  the  same  effect  may 
be  produced  by  choosing  the  most  showy  herbaceous  plants, 
perennial  and  biennial,  alternating  them  with  hardy  bulbs, 
and  the  finer  species  of  annuals. 

In  Fig.  78,  we  give  an  example  of  a  small  cottage  or 
villa  residence  of  one  or  two  acres,  where  the  flower-beds 
are  disposed  around  the  lawn  in  the  English  style  :  their 
forms  irregular,  with  curved  outlines,  affording  a  great 
degree  of  variety  in  the  appearance  as  viewed  from  differ- 
ent points  on  the  lawn  itself  In  this,  the  central  portion 
is  occupied  by  the  lawn ;  c,  d,  are  the  flower-beds,  planted 
with  showy  border-flowers,  in  separate  masses ;  &,  the 
conservatory.  Surrounding  the  whole  is  a  collection  of 
choice  shrubs  and  trees,  the  lowest  near  the  walk,  and  those 
behind  increasing  in  altitude  as  they  approach  the  boundary 
wall  or  fence.  In  this  plan,  as  there  is  supposed  to  be  no 
exterior  view  worth  preserving,  the  amphitheatre  of  shrubs 
and  trees  completely  shuts  out  all  objects  but  the  lawn  and 
its  decorations,  which  are  rendered  as  elegant  as  possible. 

Where  the  proprietor  of  a  country  residence,  or  the 
ladies  of  a  family,  have  a  particular  taste,  it  may  be  indulged 
at  pleasure  in  other  and  different  varieties  of  the  flower- 
garden.     With  some  families  there  is  a  taste  for  botany, 

*  In  many  English  residences,  the  flower-garden  is  maintained  in  never- 
fading  brilliancy  by  almost  daily  supplies  from  what  is  termed  the  reserve 
garden.  This  is  a  small  garden  out  of  sight,  in  which  a  great  number  oi 
duplicates  of  the  species  in  the  flower-garden  are  grown  in  pots  plunged  in 
beds.  As  soon  as  a  vacuum  is  made  in  the  flower-garden  by  the  fading  of  any 
flowers,  the  same  are  immediately  removed  and  their  places  supplied  by  fresh 
plants  just  ready  to  bloom,  from  the  pots  in  the  reserve  garden.  This,  which  ia 
the  ultimatum  of  refinement  in  flower-gardening,  has  never,  to  our  knowledge, 
been  attempted  in  this  country. 


436  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

when  a  small  botanic  flower-garden  may  be  preferred — the 
herbaceous  and  other  plants  being  grouped  or  massed  in 
beds  after  the  Linncean,  or  the  natural  method.  Some 
persons  have  an  enthusiastic  fondness  for  florist  flowers,  as 
Pansies,  Carnations,  Dahlias,  Roses,  etc. ;  others  for  bulbous 
roots,  all  of  which  may  very  properly  lead  to  particular 
modes  of  laying  out  flower-gardens. 

The  desideratum,  however,  with  most  persons  is,  to  have 
a  continued  display  of  blossoms  in  the  flower-garden  from 
the  opening  of  the  crocus  and  snowdrop  in  the  spring, 
until  the  autumnal  frosts  cut  off"  the  last  pale  asters,  or 
blacken  the  stems  of  the  luxuriant  dahlias  in  November. 
This  may  be  done  with  a  very  small  catalogue  of  plants  if 
they  are  properly  selected  :  such  as  flower  at  different 
seasons,  continue  long  time  in  bloom,  and  present  fine 
masses  of  flowers.  On  the  other  hand,  a  very  large  num- 
ber of  species  may  be  assembled  together ;  and  owing  to 
their  being  merely  botanical  rarities,  and  not  bearing  fine 
flowers,  or  to  their  blossoming  chiefly  in  a  certain  portion 
of  the  season,  or  continuing  but  a  short  period  in  bloom, 
the  flower-garden  will  often  have  but  an  insignificant 
appearance.  With  a  group  of  Pansies  and  spring  bulbs,  a 
bed  of  ever-blooming  China  Roses,  including  the  Isle  de 
Bourbon  varieties,  some  few  Eschscholtzias,  the  showy 
Petunias,  Gilias,  and  other  annuals,  and  a  dozen  choice 
double  Dahlias,  and  some  trailing  Verbenas,  a  limited  spot, 
of  a  few  yards  in  diameter,  may  be  made  productive  of 
more  enjoyment,  so  far  as  regards  a  continued  display  of 
flowers,  than  ten  times  that  space,  planted,  as  we  often  see 
flower-gardens  here,  with  a  heterogeneous  mixture  of 
everything  the  possesor  can  lay  his  hands  on,  or  crowd 
within  the  inclosure. 


EMBELLISHMENTS.  437 

The  mingled  flower-garden,  as  it  is  termed,  is  by  far  the 
most  common  mode  of  arrangement  in  this  country,  though 
it  is  seldom  well  effected.  The  object  in  this  is  to  dispose 
the  plants  in  the  beds  in  such  a  manner,  that  while  there 
is  no  predominance  of  bloom  in  any  one  portion  of  the  beds 
there  shall  be  a  general  admixture  of  colors  and  blossoms 
throughout  the  entire  garden  during  the  whole  season  of 
growth. 

To  promote  this,  the  more  showy  plants  should  be  often 
repeated  in  different  parts  of  the  garden,  or  even  the  same 
parterre  when  large,  the  less  beautiful  sorts  being  suffered 
to  occupy  but  moderate  space.  The  smallest  plants  should 
be  nearest  the  walk,  those  a  little  taller  behind  them,  and 
the  largest  should  be  furthest  from  the  eye,  at  the  back  of 
the  border,  when  the  latter  is  seen  from  one  side  only,  oi 
in  the  centre,  if  the  bed  be  viewed  from  both  sides.  A 
neglect  of  this  simple  rule  will  not  only  give  the  beds,  when 
the  plants  are  full  grown,  a  confused  look,  but  the  beauty 
of  the  humbler  and  more  delicate  plants  will  be  lost  amid 
the  tall  thick  branches  of  sturdier  plants,  or  removed  so 
far  from  the  spectator  in  the  walks,  as  to  be  overlooked. 

Considerable  experience  is  necessary  to  arrange  even  a 
moderate  number  of  plants  in  accordance  with  these  rules. 
To  perform  it  successfully,  some  knowledge  of  the  habits 
of  the  plants  is  an  important  requisite  ;  their  height,  time 
of  flowering,  and  the  colors  of  their  blossoms.  When  a 
gardener,  or  an  amateur,  is  perfectly  informed  on  these 
points,  he  can  take  a  given  number  of  plants  of  different 
species,  make  a  plan  of  the  bed  or  all  the  beds  of  a  flower 
garden  upon  paper,  and  designate  the  particular  situation 
of  each  species. 

To  facilitate  the  arrangement  of  plants  in  this  manner. 


438  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

we  here  subjoin  a  short  Hst  of  the  more  showy  perennial 
and  annual  hardy  border  flowers,  such  as  are  easily  pro 
cured  here  for  the  use  of  those  who  are  novices  in  the  art, 
and  who  wish  to  cultivate  a  taste  for  the  subject. 

No.  1,  Designates  the  first  class,  which  grow  from  six  to 
iwelve  inches  in  height. 

No.  2,  Those  which  grow  from  one  to  two  feet. 

No.  3,  Those  which  are  over  two  feet  in  height. 

Hardy    Perennials. 

Flowering  in  April. 

Anemone  thalictroides,  pi.     Double  wood  Anemone  ;  white. 

Anemone  Pulsatilla.     Pasque  flower  ;  blue. 

Anemone  hepatica,  pi.     Double  Hepaticas  ;  blue. 

Viola  odorata,  pi.     Double  white  and  blue  European  violets. 

Omplialodes  verna.     Blue  Venus  Navelwort. 

Polemonium  reptans.     Greek  Valerian  ;  blue. 

Phlox  stolonifera.     Creeping  Phlox  ;  red. 

Phlox  divaricata.     Early  purple  Phlox. 

Primula  veris.     The  Cowslip  ;  yellow  and  red. 

Primula  polyantha.     The  Polyanthus  ;  purple. 

Primula  auricula.     The  Auricula  ;  purple. 

Viola  tricolor.     Heart's  Ease  or  Pansy  ;  many  colors  and  sorts, 

Viola  grandiflora.     Purple  Pansy. 

Saxifraga  crassifolia.     Thick-leaved  Saxifrage  ;  lilac. 

Phlox  suhulata.     Moss  pink  Phlox. 

Phlox  nivea.     White  Moss  Pink. 

Gentiana  acaulis.     Dwarf  Gentian  ;  purple. 

Adonis  vernalis.     Spring  fl.  Adonis ;  yellow. 
2.     Dodecatheon  meadia.     American  Cowslip  ;  lilac. 
2.     Pulmonaria  virginica.     Virginian  Lungwort ;  purple. 
2.     Alyssum  saxatile.     Golden  basket ;  yellow. 
2.     Trollius  curopcus.     European  Globe  flower  ;  yellow. 
1.     Corydalis  cucularia.     Breeches-flower ;  white. 

MiY. 

1.     Veronica  gentianoides.     Gentian  leaved  Speedwell ;  blue. 


EMBELLISHMENTS.  439 

2.  Veronica  s^iicata.     Blue  spilied  Speed^vol.. 

2.  Pentstemon  ovata.     Oval  leaved  Pentstemon  ;  h  ue. 

2.  Fentstemon  atropurpureus.     Dark  purple  Pentstemon. 

2.  Orobus  niger.     Dark  purple  Vetch. 

1.  Jeffcrsonia  diphylla.     Five-leaved  Jeffersonia  ;  white. 

1.  Lysimachia  nummularia.     Trailing  Loose-strife  ;  yellow. 

1.  Convallaria  majalis.     Lily  of  the  Valley  ;  white. 

1.  Saponaria  ocymoidcs.     Basil-like  Soapwort  ;  red. 
L  Phlox  pilosa.     Hairy  Phlox  ;  red. 

2.  Anchusa  Italica.     Italian  Bugloss  ;  blue. 

2.  Ranunculus  acris,  pi.     Double  Buttercups  ;  yellow. 

2.  Tradescantia  virginica.     Blue  and  white  Spidorvvcil. 

2.  Lupinus  pohjphyllus.     Purple  Lupin. 

2.  Iris  siberiaca.     Siberian  Iris  ;  blue. 

3.  Iris  Jlorentina.     Florentine  Iris  ;  white. 

3.  PcEonia  tenuifulia.     Small  leaved  Paeony  ;  red. 

3.  Piconia  albijiora.     Single  white  Paeony. 

2.  Lupinus  nootkaensis.     Nootka  Sound  Lupin  ;  blue. 

2.  Hesperis  matronalis,  alba, pi.     The  double  white  Rocket. 

2.  Phlox  suaveolens.     The  white  Phlox  orLychnidea. 

2.  Phlox  maculata.     The  purple  spotted  Phlox. 

3.  Hemerocaliis  flava.     The  yellow  Day-Lily. 

2.  Lupi7ius  perennis  and  rivularis.     Perennial  Lupms  ;  blue. 

2.  Lychnis  flos  cuculi,  pi.    Double  ragged-Robin  ;  red. 

2.  Papaver  orientalis.     Oriental  scarlet  Poppy. 

2.  Aquilegia  canadensis.     Wild  Columbine  ;  scarlet. 

1.  Houstonia  ccerulea.     Blue  Iloustonia. 

June. 

1.  Spircea  Jilipendula,  pi.     Double  Pride  of  the  Meadow  ;  waite. 

2.  Spircea  lobata.     Siberian  Spirea ;  red. 

2.  SpircEa  Tflmaria,  pi.     Double  Meadow-sweet ;  white. 

2.  Delphinium  grandiflorum,  pi.     Double  dark  blue  Lark.^par. 

2.  Delphinium  chinense,pl.     D:uble  Chinese  Larkspur  ;  bluo. 

2.  Dianthus  hortensis.     Garden  Pinks,  many  double  sorts  and  colors. 

2.  Caltlia  palustris,  pi.     Double  marsh  Marygold  ;  yellow. 

..  Cypripcdium  pubescens.     Yellow  Indian  moccasin. 

2.  Polemonium  c<xruleurn,  and  album.    Common  white  a  id  blue  Greek 

Valerian. 

2.  Campanula    persicifolia,  pi.       Double    peach-leaved    Campanula  ; 

white. 

2.  Antirrhinum  majus.    Red  and  white  Snapdragons. 


440  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING, 

2.  Geranium  sai.guincum.     Bloody  Geranium  ;  red. 

1.  Viscaria  vulgaris,  pi.     White  and  red  Viscaria. 

2.  CEnothera  fruticosa.  Shrubby  Evening  Primrose  ;  yellow. 
1.  Eschscholtzia  calif ornica.  Golden  Eschscholtzia  ;  yellow. 
1.  Lychnis  fulgens.     Fulgent  Lychnis  ;  red. 

1.  Dianthus  chinensis.     Indian  Pinks  ;  variegated. 

2.  Dianthus  caryophyllus.     Carnation  ;  variegated. 
1.  Verhena  multifida.     Cut-leaved  Verbena  ;  purple. 

1.  Verhena  Laynherti.     Lambert's  Verbena  ;  purple. 

2.  Campanula  grandiflora.     Large  blue  Bell-flower. 

3.  Aconitum  Napellus.     Monkshood ;  purple. 

3.  Aconititn  Napellus,  variegated.     Purple  and  white  Monkshood. 

3.  Campanula  ranunculoides.     Nodding  Bell-flower  ;  blue. 

2.  Clematis  iritegrifolia.     Austrian  blue  Clematis. 

3.  Verbascum  phwniceum.     Purple  Mullein. 
3.  Clematis  erecfa.     Upright  Clematis  ;  white. 
3.  Linum  perenne.     Perennial  Flax  ;  blue. 

3.  FcBotiia  Humei.     Double  blush  Paeony. 

3.  Paonia  fragrans.     Double  fragrant  Paeony  ;  rose. 

3.  PcBonia  wkitleji.     Double  white  Paeony. 

3.  Gaillardia  aristata.     Bristly  Gaillardia  ;  yellow. 

2.  Asphodelus  ramosus.     Branchy  Asphodel ;  white. 

2.  Pentstemon  speciosa.     Showy  Peatstemon  ;  blue. 

1.  Iris  Susana.     Chalcedonian  Iris  ;  mottled. 

July, 

2.  Dictamnus  Fraxinella.     Purple  Fraxinella. 
2.  Dictamnus  alba.     White  Frajunella. 

1.  Pentstemon  Richardsonii.     Richardson's  Pentstemon ;  purple. 

1.  Ff.;:.tstcmon  pubescens.     Downy  Pentstemon  ;  lilac. 

2.  Anchusa  officinalis.     Common  Bugloss  ;  blue. 

1.  Campanula  carpathica.     Carpathian  Bell-flower  ;  blue. 

2.  iChmarda  didyma.     Scarlet  Balm. 

2.  (l^nothcra  Fraseri.     Fraser's  Evening  Prunrose  ;  yellow. 

2.  Ginothera  inacrocarpa.     Large  podded  Evening  Primrose  ;  yellow. 

1.  Sedum  populifolium.     Poplar  leaved  Sedum  ;  white. 

2.  Campanula  Trachelium,  pi.     Double  white  and  blue  Bell-flowers. 
1.  Potentilla  Russelliana.     Russell's  Cinquefoil  ;  red. 

1.  Dianthus  deltoides.     Mountain  Pink  ;  red. 

1.  Veronica  maritima.     Maritime  Speedwell ;  blue. 

2.  Delphinium  speciosum.     Showy  Larkspur ;  blue. 
2.  Campanula  riacrantha.     Large  blue  Bell-flower. 


EMBELLISHMENTS.  441 

3.  Pentstemon  Digitalis.     Missouri  Pentstemon  ;  white. 

3.  Hibiscus  palustris.     Swamp  Hibiscus  ;  red. 

3.  Lychnis  Chalcedonica.     Single  and  double  scarlet  Lyclinis. 

2.  Chelone  Lyoni.     Purple  Chelone. 

2.  Chelone  harhata.     Bearded  Chelone  ;  orange. 

2.  Dracocephalum  grandiflorum.     Dragon's  Head  i  purple. 

3.  Lythrum  latifolium.     Perennial  Pea  ;  purple. 

August. 

2.  Catananche  ccerulea.     Blue  Catananche. 

1.  Cory dalis  for mosa.     Red  Fumitory. 

1.  Phlox  carnea.     Flesh  colored  Phlox. 

2.  Asclepias  tuherosa.  Orange  Swallowwort. 
2.  Veronica  carnea.  Flesh  colored  Speedwell. 
2.  Gaillardia  bicolor.     Orange  Gaillardia. 

2.  Hemerocallis  japonica.     Japan  Day-Lily  ;  white. 

2.  Dianthus  superhus.     Superb  fringed  Piuk  ;  white 

2.  Lobelia  car dinalis.     Cardinal- flower  ;  red. 

1.  Lychnis  coronata.     Chinese  orange  Lychnis. 

2.  Lythrum.  salicaria.     Willow  Herb  ;  purple. 

3.  Yucca  filamentosa.     Adam's  Thread  ;  white. 

2.  Yucca  flaccida.     Flaccid  Yucca  ;  white. 

3.  Phlox  paniculata.     Panicled  Phlox  ;  purple  and  white. 

3.  Campanula  pyramidalis.     Pyramidal  Bell-flower  ;  blue  and  white 

2.  Liatris  squarrosa.     Blazing  Star  ;  blue. 

2.  Epilohium  spicatum.     Purple  spiked  Epilobium. 

2.  Coreopsis  tenuifolia.     Fine-leaved  Coreopsis ;  yellow 

3.  Cassia  Marylandica.     Maryland  Cassia  ;  yellow. 

September  and  October. 

2.  Achillea  Ptarmica,  pi.     Double  Milfoil ;  whita 

2.  Coreopsis  grandiflora.     Large  yellow  Coreopsi?. 

1.  Aster  linif alius.     Fine-leaved  Aster ;  white. 

2.  Eupatorium  ccBlestinum.     Azure  blue  Eupatorium 

2.  Phlox   Wheeleriana.     Wheeler's  Phlox  ;  red. 

3.  Aster  macrophyllus.     Broad-leaved  Aster  ;  v/hits. 

3.  Eupatorium  aromaticum.    Fragrant  Eupatorium  ;  white. 

3.  Liatris  elegans.     Elefjant  Blazing  Star  ;  purple. 

3.  Liatris  spicata  and  s(  ariosa.     Blue  Blazing  Stars. 

1.  Gentiana  saponaria.     Soapwort  Gentian  ;  blue. 

3.  Aster  nov<B-ansli<f.     New  England  As*er  ;  pu-ple. 


442  LANDSCAPE    GAliDENING. 

3.     Echino2)s  retro.     Globe  Thistle. 

3.     Chrysantheinum  indicum.     Artemisias,  many  sorts  and  colors. 

The  shrubbery  is  so  generally  situated  m  the  neighbor- 
hood of  the  flower-garden  and  the  house,  that  we  shal. 
here  offer  a  few  remarks  on  its  arrangement  and  distri- 
bution. 

A  collection  of  flowering  shrubs  is  so  ornamental,  that 
to  a  greater  or  les»  extent  it  is  to  be  found  in  almost  every 
residence  of  the  most  moderate  size :  the  manner  in  which 
the  shrubs  are  disposed,  must  necessarily  depend  in  a  great 
degree  upon  the  size  of  the  grounds,  the  use  or  enjoyment 
to  be  derived  from  them,  and  the  prevailing  character  of 
the  scenery. 

It  is  evident,  on  a  moment's  reflection,  that  shrubs  being 
intrinsically  more  ornamental  than  trees,  on  account  of  the 
beauty  and  abundance  of  their  flowers,  they  will  generally 
be  placed  near  and  about  the  house,  in  order  that  their  gay 
blossoms  and  fine  fragrance  may  be  more  constantly 
enjoyed,  than  if  they  were  scattered  indiscriminately  over 
the  grounds. 

Where  a  place  is  limited  in  size,  and  the  whole  lawn  and 
plantations  partake  of  the  pleasure-ground  character, 
shrubs  of  all  descriptions  may  be  grouped  with  good  effect, 
in  the  same  manner  as  trees,  throughout  the  grounds  ;  the 
finer  and  rarer  species  being  disposed  about  the  dwelling, 
and  the  more  hardy  and  common  sorts  along  the  walks, 
and  in  groups,  in  different  situations  near  the  eye. 

When,  however,  the  residence  is  of  larger  size,  and  the 
grounds  have  a  park-like  extent  and  character,  the  intro- 
duction of  shrubs  might  interfere  with  the  noble  and 
dignified  expression  of  lofty  full  grown  trees,  except 
perhaps  they  were  planted  here   and  there,  among  large 


EMBELLISHMENTS.  4  1  j 

groups,  as  underwood ;  or  if  cattle  or  sheep  were  allowed 
to  graze  in  the  park,  it  would  of  course  be  impossible  to 
preserve  plantations  of  shrubs  there.  When  ^his  is  the 
case,  however,  a  portion  near  the  house  is  divided  from  the 
park  (by  a  wire  fence  or  some  inconspicuous  barrier)  for 
the  pleasure-ground,  where  the  shrubs  are  disposed  in  belts, 
groups,  etc.,  as  in  the  first  case  alluded  to. 

There  are  two  methods  of  grouping  shrubs  upon  lawns 
which  may  separately  be  considered,  in  combination  with 
beautiful  and  with  picturesque  scenery. 

In  the  first  case,  where  the  character  of  the  scene,  of 
the  plantations  of  trees,  etc.,  is  that  of  polished  beauty,  the 
belts  of  shrubs  may  be  arranged  similar  to  herbaceous 
flowering  plants,  in  arabesque  beds,  along  the  walks,  as  in 
Fig.  7G,  page  428.  In  this  case,  the  shrubs  alone,  arranged 
with  relation  to  their  height,  may  occupy  the  beds ;  or  if 
preferred,  shrubs  and  flowers  may  be  intermingled.  Those 
who  have  seen  the  shrubbery  at  Hyde  Park,  the  residence 
of  the  late  Dr.  Hosack,  which  borders  the  walk  leading 
from  the  mansion  to  the  hot-houses,  will  be  able  to  recall 
a  fine  example  of  this  mode  of  mingling  woody  and 
herbaceous  plants.  The  belts  or  borders  occupied  by  the 
shrubbery  and  flower-garden  there,  are  perhaps  from  25  to 
35  feet  in  width,  completely  filled  with  a  collection  of 
shrubs  and  herbaceous  plants ;  the  smallest  of  the  latter 
being  quite  near  the  walk ;  these  succeeded  by  taller  species 
receding  from  the  front  of  the  border,  then  follow  shrubs 
of  moderate  size,  advancing  in  height  unti'  the  back- 
ground of  the  whole  is  a  rich  mass  of  tall  shrubs  and  tree? 
of  moderate  size.  The  effect  of  this  belt  on  so  large  a 
scale,  in  high  keeping,  is  remarkably  striking  and  elegant. 

Where  picturesque  effect  is  the  object  aimed  at  in  the 


444  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

pleasure-grounds,  it  may  be  attained  in  another  way ;  that 
is,  by  planting  irregular  groups  of  the  most  vigorous  and 
thrifty  growing  shrubs  in  lawn,  without  placing  them  in 
regular  dug  beds  or  belts  ;  but  instead  of  this,  keeping  the 
grass  from  growing  and  the  soil  somewhat  loose,  for  a  few 
inches  round  their  stems  (which  will  not  be  apparent  at  a 
short  distance).  In  the  case  of  many  of  the  hardier  shrubs, 
after  they  become  well  established,  even  this  care  will  not 
be  requisite,  and  the  grass  only  will  require  to  be  kept  short 
by  clipping  it  when  the  lawn  is  mown. 

As    in   picturesque   scenes   everything    depends    upon 
grouping  well,  it  will  be  found  that  shrubs  may  be  employed 
with  excellent  effect  in  connecting  single  trees,  or  finishing 
a  group  composed  of  large  trees,  or  giving  fulness  to  groups 
of  tall  trees  newly  planted  on  a  lawn,  or  effecting  a  union 
between  buildings  and  ground.     It  is  true  that  it  requires 
something  of  an  artist's  feeling  and  perception  of  the  pic- 
turesque to  do  these  successfully,  but  the  result  is  so  much 
the  more  pleasing  and  satisfactory  when  it  is  well  executed. 
When  walks  are  continued  from  the  house  through  dis- 
tant parts  of  the  pleasure-grounds,  groups  of  shrubs  may  be 
planted  along  their  margins,  here  and  there,  with  excellent 
effect.     They  do  not  shut  out  or  obstruct  the  view  like 
large  trees,  while  they  impart  an  interest  to  an  otherwise 
tame  and  spiritless  walk.     Placed  in  the  projecting  bay, 
round  which  the  walk  curves  so  as  to  appear  to  be  a  reason 
for  its  taking  that  direction,  they  conceal  also  the  portion 
of  the  walk  in  advance,  and  thus  enhance  the  interest 
doubly.    The  neighborhood  of  rustic  seats,  or  resting  points, 
are  also  fit  places  for  the  assemblage  of  a  group  or  groups 
of  shrubs. 

For  the  use  of  those  who  require  some  guide  in   the 


EMBELLISHMENTS.  445 

selection  of  species,  we  subjoin  the  accompaLying  list  of 
hardy  and  showy  shrubs,  which  are  at  the  same  time  easily 
procured  in  the  United  States.  A  great  number  of  addi- 
tional species  and  varieties,  and  many  more  rare,  might  be 
enumerated,  but  such  will  be  sufficiently  familiar  to  the 
connoisseur  already  ;  and  what  we  have  said  respecting 
botanical  rarities  in  flowering  plants  may  be  applied  with 
equal  force  to  shrubs,  viz.  that  in  order  to  produce  a  bril- 
Uant  effect,  a  few  well  chosen  species,  often  repeated,  are 
more  effective  than  a  great  and  ill-assorted  melange. 

In  the  following  list,  the  shrubs  are  divided  into  two 
classes — No.  1  designating  those  of  medium  size,  or  low 
growth,  and  No.  2,  those  which  are  of  the  largest  size. 

Flowtrixg  in  April. 

1.  Daphne  mezereum,  the  Pink  Mezereum,  B.  M.   album,  the  white 

Mezereum. 

2.  Shepherdia  argentea,  the  Buffalo  beriy  ;  yellow. 

1.  Xanthorhiza  opiifolia,  the  parsley-leaved  Yellow-root ;  brown. 

1.  Cydonia  japonica,  the  Japan  Quince  ;  scarlet. 

1.  Cydonia  japonica  alba,  the  Japan  Quince  ;  white. 

2.  Amelanchier  Botryapiiim,  the  snowy  Medlar. 
I.  Eibes  aureum,  the  Missouri  Currant ;  yellow. 

1.  Coronilla  Emerus,  the  Scorpion  Senna  ;  yellow. 

2.  Magnolia  conspicua,  the  Cliinese  chandelier  Magnolia  ;  white. 

Mat. 

2.  Crategus  oxycantha,  the  scarlet  Hawthorn. 

2.  Crategus  oxycantha,  fl.  pleno,  the  double  white  Hawthorn. 

2.  Chionanthus  virginica,  the  white  Fringe  tree. 

1.  Chionanthus  latifolius,  the  broad-leaved  Fringe  tree  ;  wliite. 

I.  Azalea,  rrany  fine  varieties  ;  red,  white,  and  yellow. 

1.  Calycanthus  florida,  the  Sweet-scented-shrub  ;  brown. 

1.  Magnolia  purpurea,  the  Chinese  purple  Magnolia. 

2.  Halesia  tetraptera,  the  silver  Bell  tree  ;  white. 

2.     Syringa  vulgaris,  the  common  white  and  red  Lilacs. 
1.     Syringipersica,  the  Persian  Lilac  :  white  and  purple. 


44G  LANDSCAPE    GAIIDENING. 

1.  Syringa  persica  laciniata,  the  Persian  cut-leaved  Lilac  ;  purple. 

1.  Kerria  or  Cor  chorus  japonica,  the  Japan  Globe  flower  ;  yellow. 

1.  Lonicera  tartarica,   the  Tartarian  upright  Honeysuckles ;  red  and 

white. 

1.  Philadelphus    coronarius,   the   common    Syringo,   and   the  double 

Syringo  ;  white. 

1.  Spirma  hypericifolia,  the  St.  Stephen's  wreath  ;  wliite. 

1.  Spiraa  corymhosa,  the  cluster  flowering  Spirea  ;  white. 

1.  Rihes  sanguineum,  the  scarlet  flowering  Currant. 

1.  Amygdalus pumila,  pi.,  the  double  dwarf  Almond  ;  pink. 

1.  Caragana  Chamlagu,  the  Siberian  Pea  tree  ;  yellow. 

2.  Magnolia  soulangeana,  the  Soulange  Magnolia  ;  pui-ple. 

1.  PcEonia  Moutan  banksia,  and  rosea,   the   Chinese   tree    Paeonias 

purple. 

1.  ^enfAamia /rwgi/era,  the  red  berried  Benthamia ;  yellow. 

June. 

1.  Amorpha  fruticosa,  the  Indigo  Shrub  ;  purple. 

2.  Coluiea  arborescens,  the  yellow  Bladder-senna. 
1.  Colutea  cruenta,  the  red  Bladder-senna. 

1.  Cytisus  capitatus,  the  cluster-flowered  Cytisus  ;  yellow. 

1.  Stuartia  virginica,  the  white  Stuartia. 

1.  Cornus  sanguinea,  the  bloody  twig  Dogwood  ;  white. 

1.  Hydrangea  quercifolia,  the  oak-leaved  Hydrangea  ;  white. 

2.  Philadelphus  grandiflorus,  the  large  flowering  Syringo  ;  white. 
2.  Viburnum  Opulus,  the  Snow-ball ;  white. 

2.  Magnolia  glauca,  the  swamp  Magnolia  ;  white. 

1.  Eobinia  hispida,  the  Rose-acacia 

July. 

1.  Spircsa  bella, the  beautiful  Spirea;  red. 

2.  Sophora  japonica,  the  Japan  Sophora  ;  white. 

2.  Sophora  japonica  pendula,  the  weeping  Sophora  ;  white. 

2.  Ehus  Cotinus,  the  Venetian  Fringe  tree  ;  yellow.     (Brown  tufts.) 

1.  Ligustrum  vulgar e,  the  common  Privet ;  white. 

2.  Cytisus  Laburnum,  the  Laburnum  ;  yellow. 

2.  Cytisus  I.  quercifolia,  the  oaked-leaved  Laburnum  ;  white. 

1.  Cytisus  purpurcus,  the  purple  Laburnum. 

1.  Cyttsus  argenteus,  the  silvery  Cytisus  ;  yellow. 

1.  Cytisus  nigricans,  the  black  rooted  Cytisus  ;  yellow. 

2.  Kolreuteria  paniculata,  t'lc  Japan  Kolreuteria  ;  yellow. 


EMBELLISHMENTS.  447 

August  and  September 

1.     Clethra  alnifolia,  the  alder-leaved  Clethra  ;  white. 

1.  Syinphoria  racemosa,  iho.  Bnowhcxxy  ;  (in  fruit)  white. 

2.  Hibiscus  syriacus,  the  double  purple,  double  white,  double  striped 

djuble  blue,  and  variegated  leaved  Altheas. 

1.  Spir<ea  tomentosa,  the  tomentose  Spirea  ;  red. 

2.  Magnolia    glauba    thompsoniana,    the  late    flowering    Magnolia ; 

white. 

1.  Baccharis  halimifolia,  the  Groundsel  tree  ;  white  tufts. 

2.  Euonymus  europcBus,  the  European  Strawberry  tree  (in  frait),  red. 
2.     Euonymus  europcBus  alba,  the  European   Strawberry   tree  ;  the  fruit 

white. 
2.     Euonymus  latifolius,  the  broad-leaved  Strawberry  tree  ;  red. 
1.     Daphne  mezereum  aatumnalis,  the  autumnal  Mezereum. 

Besides  the  above,  there  are  a  great  number  of  charming 
varieties  of  hardy  roses,  some  of  which  may  be  grown  in 
the  common  way  on  their  own  roots,  and  others  grafted  on 
stocks,  two,  three,  or  four  feet  high,  as  standards  or  tree- 
roses.  The  effect  of  the  latter,  if  such  varieties  as  George 
the  Fourth,  La  Cerisette,  Pallagi,  or  any  of  the  new  hybrid 
roses  are  grown  as  standards,  is  wonderfully  brilliant  when 
they  are  in  full  bloom.  Perhaps  the  situation  where  they 
are  displayed  to  the  greatest  advantage  is,  in  the  centre  of 
small  round,  oval,  or  square  beds  in  the  flower-garden, 
where  the  remainder  of  the  plants  composing  the  bed  are 
of  dwarfish  growth,  so  as  not  to  hide  the  stem  and  head  o' 
the  tree-roses. 

There  are,  unfortunately,  but  few  evergreen  shrubs  tha; 
will  endure  the  protracted  cold  of  the  winters  of  the  north- 
ern states.  The  fine  Hollies,  Portugal  Laurels,  Laurusti 
nuses,  etc.,  which  are  the  glory  of  English  gardens  in 
autumn  and  winter,  are  not  hardy  enough  to  endure  the 
depressed  temperature  of  ten  degrees  below  zero.  South 
of  Philadelphia,  these  beautiful  exotic  evergreens  may  be 


448  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

acclimated  with  good  success,  and  will  add  greatly  to  the 
interest  of  the  shrubbery  and  grounds  in  winter. 

Besides  the  Balsam  firs  and  the  Spruce  firs,  the  Arboi 
Vitae,  and  other  evergreen  trees  which  we  have  described 
in  the  previous  pages  of  this  volume,  the  following  hardy 
species  of  evergreen  shrubs  may  be  introduced  with 
advantage  in  the  pleasure-ground  groups,  viz  : — 

Rhododendron  maximum,  the  American  rose  bay  or  big  Laurel  ;  white 

and  pink,  several  varieties  (in  shaded  places). 
Kalmia  latifolia,  the  common  Laurel ;  several  colors. 
Juniperus  siiecia,  the  Swedish  Juniper. 
Juniperus  communis,  the  Irish  Juniper. 
Buxus  arborescens,  the  common  Tree-box,  the   Gold  striped  Tree-box, 

and  the  Silver  striped  Tree-box. 
Ilex  opaca,  the  American  Holly. 
Crategus  pyracantha,  the  Evergreen  Thorn. 
Mahonia  aquifoUum,  the  Holly  leaved  Berberry. 

The  Conservatory  or  the  Green-House  is  an  elegant  and 
delightful  appendage  to  the  villa  or  mansion,  when  there  is 
a  taste  for  plants  among  the  different  members  of  a  family. 
Those  who  have  not  enjoyed  it,  can  hardly  imagine  the 
pleasure  afforded  by  a  well-chosen  collection  of  exotic 
plants,  which,  amid  the  genial  warmth  of  an  artificial 
climate,  continue  to  put  forth  their  lovely  blossoms,  and 
exhale  their  delicious  perfumes,  when  all  out-of-door  nature 
is  chill  and  desolate.  The  many  hours  of  pleasant  and 
healthy  exercise  and  recreation  afforded  to  the  ladies  of  a 
family,  where  they  take  an  interest  themselves  in  the 
growth  and  vigor  of  the  plants,  are  certainly  no  trifling 
considerations  where  the  country  residence  is  the  place  of 
habitation  throughout  the  whole  year.  Often  during  the 
inclemency  of  our  winter  and  spring  months,  there  are 
days  when  either  the  excessive  cold,  or  the  disagreeable 


EMBELLISHMENTS.  449 

state  of  the  weather,  prevents  in  a  great  measure  many 
persons,  and  especially  females,  from  taking  exercise  in 
the  open  air.  To  such,  the  conservatory  would  be  an 
almost  endless  source  of  enjoyment  and  amusement ;  and 
if  they  are  true  amateurs,  of  active  exertion  also.  The 
constant  changes  which  daily  growth  and  development 
bring  about  in  vegetable  forms,  the  interest  we  feel  in  the 
opening  of  a  favorite  cluster  of  buds,  or  the  progress  of  the 
thrifty  and  luxuriant  shoots  of  a  rare  plant,  are  such  as 
serve  most  effectually  to  prevent  an  occupation  of  this 
nature  from  ever  becoming  monotonous  or  ennuyant. 

The  difference  between  the  green-house  and  conserva- 
tory is,  that  in  the  former,  the  plants  are  all  kept  in  pots 
and  arranged  on  stages,  both  to  meet  the  eye  agreeably, 
and  for  more  convenient  growth  ;  while  in  the  conservatory, 
the  plants  are  grown  in  a  bed  or  border  of  soil  precisely  as 
in  the  open  air. 

When  either  of  these  plant  habitations  is  to  be  attached 
to  the  house,  the  preference  is  greatly  in  favor  of  the 
conservatory.  The  plants  being  allowed  more  room,  have 
richer  and  more  luxuriant  foliage,  and  grow  and  flower 
in  a  manner  altogether  superior  to  those  in  pots.  The 
allusion  to  nature  is  also  more  complete  in  the  case  of 
plants  growing  in  the  ground  ;  and  from  the  objects  all 
being  on  the  same  level,  and  easily  accessible,  they  are 
with  more  facility  kept  in  that  perfect  nicety  and  order 
which  an  elegant  plant-house  should  always  exhibit. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  green-house  will  contain  by  far 

the  largest  number  of  plants,  and  the  same  may  be  more 

easily   changed   or   renewed   at    any  time ;  so  that  for  a 

■"articular  taste,  as  that  of  a  botanical  amateur,  who  wishes 

to  grow  a  great  number  of  species  in  a  small  space,  the 

29 


450  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

green-house  will  be  found  preferable.  Whenever  either 
the  conservatory  or  green-house  is  of  moderate  size,  and 
intended  solely  for  private  recreation,  we  would  in  every 
case,  when  such  a  thing  is  not  impossible,  have  it  attached 
to  the  house  ;  communicating  by  a  glass  door  with  the 
drawing-room,  or  one  of  the  living  rooms.  Nothing  can 
be  more  gratifying  than  a  vista  in  winter  through  a  glass 
door  down  the  walk  of  a  conservatory,  bordered  and 
overhung  with  the  fine  forms  of  tropical  vegetation, 
golden  oranges  glowing  through  the  dark  green  foliage, 
and  gay  corollas  lighting  up  the  branches  of  Camellia?, 
and  other  floral  favorites.  Let  us  add  the  exulting  song  cf 
a  few  Canaries,  and  the  enchantment  is  complete.  How 
much  more  refined  and  elevated  is  the  taste  which  prefers 
such  accessories  to  a  dwelling,  rather  than  costly  furniture, 
or  an  extravagant  display  of  plate ! 

The  best  and  most  economical  form  for  a  conservatory 
is  a  parallelogram — the  deviation  from  a  square  being 
greater  or  less  according  to  circumstances.  When  it  is 
joined  to  the  dwelling  by  one  of  its  sides  (in  the  case  of 
the  parallelogram  form),  the  roof  need  only  slope  in  one 
way,  that  is  from  the  house.  When  one  of  the  ends  of  the 
conservatory  joins  the  dwelling,  the  roof  should  slope  both 
ways  from  the  centre.  The  advantage  of  the  junction  in 
the  former  case,  is,  that  less  outer  surface  of  the  conser- 
vatory being  exposed  to  the  cold,  viz.  only  a  side  and  two 
ends,  less  fuel  will  be  required ;  the  advantage  in  the  latter 
case  is,  that  the  main  walk  leading  down  the  conserva- 
tory will  be  exactly  in  the  line  of  the  vista  from  the 
drawing-room  of  the  dwelling. 

It  is,  we  hope,  almost  unnecessary  to  state,  that  the  root 
nf  a  conservatory,  or  indeed  any  other  house  where  plants 


EMBELLISHMENTS.  451 

are  to  be  well-grown,  must  be  glazed.  Opake  roofs 
prevent  the  admission  of  perpendicular  light,  without 
which  the  stems  of  vegetation  are  drawn  up  weak  and 
feeble,  and  are  attracted  in  an  unsightly  manner  towards 
the  glass  in  front.  When  the  conservatory  joins  the  house 
by  one  of  its  ends,  and  extends  out  from  the  building  to  a 
considerable  length,  the  effect  will  be  much  more  elegant ; 
and  the  plants  will  thrive  more  perfectly,  when  it  is  glazed 
on  all  of  the  three  sides,  so  as  to  admit  light  in  every 
direction. 

The  best  aspect  for  a  conservatory  is  directly  south  ; 
southeast  and  southwest  are  scarcely  inferior.  Even  east 
and  west  exposures  will  do  very  well,  where  there  is  plenty 
of  glass  to  admit  light ;  for  though  our  winters  are  cold, 
yet  there  is  a  great  abundance  of  sun,  and  bright  clear 
atmosphere,  both  far  more  beneficial  to  plants  than  the 
moist,  foggy  vapor  of  an  English  winter,  which,  though 
mild,  is  comparatively  sunless.  When  the  conservatory 
adjoins  and  looks  into  the  flower-garden,  the  effect  will  be 
appropriate  and  pleasing. 

Some  few  hints  respecting  the  construction  of  a  con 
servatory  may  not  be  unacceptable  to  some  of  our  readers 
In  the  first  place,  the  roof  should  have  a  sufficient  slope  t( 
carry  off  the  rain  rapidly,  to  prevent  leakage ;  from  40  to 
45  degrees  is  found  to  be  the  best  inclination  in  our 
climate.  The  roof  should  by  no  means  be  glazed  with 
large  panes,  because  small  ones  have  much  greater 
strength,  which  is  requisite  to  withstand  tne  heavy 
weicrht  of  snow  that  often  falls  durinff  winter,  as  well  as 
to  resist  breakage  by  hail  storms  in  summer.  Four  or 
eight  inches  by  six,  is  the  best  size  for  roof-glass,  and  with 
this  size  the  lap  of  the  panes  need  not  be  greater  than  one- 


452  LANDSCAPE    GARDE^   N«. 

eighth  of  an  inch,  while  it  would  require  to  be  one-fourth 
of  an  inch,  were  the  panes  of  the  usual  size.  On  the  front 
and  sides,  the  sashes  may  be  handsome,  and  filled  in  with 
the  best  glass ;  even  plate  glass  has  been  used  in  many 
cases  to  our  knowledge  here. 

In  the  second  place,  some  thorough  provision  must 
be  made  for  warming  the  conservatory ;  and  it  is  by  far  the 
best  mode  to  have  the  apparatus  for  this  purpose  entirely 
independent  of  the  dwelling  house ;  that  is  (though  the 
furnace  may  be  in  the  basement),  the  flues  and  fii'e  should 
be  intended  to  heat  the  conservatory  alone ;  for  although 
a  conservatory  may,  if  small,  be  heated  by  the  same  fire 
which  heats  the  kitchen  or  one  of  the  living  rooms,  it  is  a 
much  less  efficient  mode  of  attaining  this  object,  and 
renders  the  conservatory  more  or  less  liable  at  all  times 
to  be  too  hot  or  too  cold. 

The  common  square  flue,  the  sides  built  of  bricks,  and 
the  top  and  bottom  of  tiles  manufactured  for  that  purpose, 
is  one  of  the  oldest,  most  simple,  and  least  expensive 
methods  of  heating  in  use.  Latterly,  its  place  has  been 
supplied  by  hot  water  circulated  in  large  tubes  of  three 
or  four  inches  in  diameter  from  an  open  boiler,  and  by 
Perkins's  mode  as  it  is  called,  which  employs  small  pipes 
of  an  inch  in  diameter,  hermetically  sealed.  Economy 
of  fuel  and  in  the  time  requisite  in  attendance,  are  the 
chief  merits  of  the  hot  water  systems,  which,  however, 
have  the  great  additional  advantage  of  affording  a  more 
moist  and  genial  temperature. 

In  a  green-house,  the  flues,  or  hot  water  pipes,  may  be 
concealed  under  the  stage.  In  conservatories  they  should 
by  all  means  be  placed  out  of  sight  also.  To  effect  this, 
they   are    generally    conducted    into   a   narrow,   hollow 


embellishjments. 


453 


chamber,  under  the  walk,  which  lias  perforated  sides  or  a 
grated  top,  to  permit  the  escape  of  heated  air.* 


[Fig.  79.    Villa  at  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  with  the  Conservatory  attached.] 

One  of  the  most  beautiful  conservatories  attached  to 
the  dwelling,  to  which  we  can  refer  our  readers,  for  an 
example,  is  one  built  by  J.  W.  Perry,  Esq.,  Brooklyn,  near 
New  York  (Fig.  79),  forming  the  left  wing  of  this  elegant 
villa.  Among  the  inost  magnificent  detached  conserva- 
tories are  those  of  J.  P.  Gushing,  Esq.,  at  his  elegant  seat, 
Belmont  Place,  Watertown,  near  Boston ;  and  that  at 
Montgomery  Place,  the  seat  of  Mrs.  Edward  Livingston, 
on  the  Hudson,  Fig.  80. 

A  conservatory  is  frequently  made  an  addition  to  a 
rectangular  Grecian  villa,  as  one  of  its  wings — the  other 
being  a  living  or  bed-room.  The  more  varied  and 
irregular  outline  of  Gothic  buildings  enables  them  to 
receive  an  appendage  of  this  nature  with  more  facility 
in   almost   any   direction,    where    the    aspect  is  suitable. 

*  The  circulation  of  warm  air  is  greatly  accelerated  when  an  opening 
through  the  outer  air  is  permitted  to  enter  the  hot  air  passage,  thus  becoming 
heatal  and  passing  into  the  conservatory. 


454  LANDSCAPE  GAKDENING. 

Whatever  be  the  style  of  the  architecture  of  the  house, 
that  of  the  conservatory  should  in  every  case  conform 
to  it,  and  evince  a  degree  of  enrichment  according  with 
that  of  the  main  building. 

Though  a  conservatoiy  is  often  made  an  expensive 
luxury,  attached  only  to  tne  better  class  of  residences,  there 
is  no  reason  why  cottages  of  more  humble  character 
should  not  have  the  same  source  of  enjoyment  on  a  more 
moderate  scale.  A  small  green-house,  or  plant  cabinet,  as 
it  is  sometimes  called,  eight  or  ten  feet  square,  communi- 
cating with  the  parlor,  and  constructed  in  -a  simple  style, 
may  be  erected  and  kept  up  in  such  a  manner,  as  to  be  a 
source  of  much  pleasure,  for  a  comparatively  trifling  sum  ; 
and  we  hope  soon  to  see  in  this  country,  where  the  com- 
forts of  life  are  more  equally  distributed  than  in  any  other, 
the  taste  for  enjoyments  of  this  kind  extending  itself  with 
the  means  for  realizing  them,  into  every  portion  of  the 
northern  and  middle  States. 

Open  and  covered  seats,  of  various  descriptions,  are 
amons:  the  most  convenient  and  useful  decorations  for  the 
pleasure-grounds  of  a  country  residence.  Situated  in  por- 
tions of  the  lawn  or  park,  somewhat  distant  from  the 
house,  they  offer  an  agreeable  place  for  rest  or  repose.  If 
there  are  certain  points  from  which  are  obtained  agreeable 
prospects  or  extensive  views  of  the  surrounding  country,  a 
seat,  by  designating  those  points,  and  by  affording  us  a 
convenient  mode  of  enjoying  them,  has  a  double  recom- 
mendation to  our  minds. 

Open  and  covered  seats  are  of  two  distinct  kinds  ;  one 
architectural,  or  formed  after  artist-like  designs,  of  stone 
or  wood,  in  Grecian,  Gothic,  or  other  forms  ;  which  may, 
if  they  are  intended  to  produce  an  elegant  effect,  have 


EMBELLISHMENTS.  455 

vases  on  pedestals  as  accompaniments  ;  the  other,  rustic, 
as  they  are  called,  which  are  formed  out  of  trunks  ana 
branches  of  trees,  roots,  etc.,  in  their  natural  forms. 

There  are  particular  sites  where  each  of  these  kinds  of 
seats,  or  structures,  is,  in  good  taste,  alone  admissible.  In 
the  proximity  of  elegant  and  decorated  buildings  where  all 
around  has  a  polished  air,  it  would  evidently  be  doing 
violence  to  our  feelings  and  sense  of  propriety  to  admit 
many  rustic  seats  and  structures  of  any  kind ;  but  archi- 
tectural decorations  and  architectural  seats  are  there 
correctly  introduced.  For  the  same  reason,  also,  as  we 
have  already  suggested,  that  the  sculptured  forms  of  vases, 
etc.,  would  be  out  of  keeping  in  scenes  where  nature  is 
predominant  (as  the  distant  wooded  parts  or  walks  of  a 
residence),  architectural,  or,  in  other  words,  highly  arti- 
ficial seats,  would  not  be  in  character  :  but  rustic  seats 
and  structures,  Avhich,  from  the  nature  of  the  materials 
employed  and  the  simple  manner  of  their  construction, 
appear  but  one  remove  from  natural  forms,  are  felt  at  once 
to  be  in  unison  with  the  surrounding  objects.  Again,  the 
mural  and  highly  artistical  vase  and  statue,  most  properly 
accompany  the  beautiful  landscape  garden  ;  while  rustic 
baskets,  or  vases,  are  the  most  fitting  decorations  of  the 
Picturesque  Landscape  Garden. 

The  simplest  variety  of  covered  architectural  seat  is  the 
latticed  arbor  for  vines  of  various  descriptions,  with  the 
seat  underneath  the  canopy  of  foliage  ;  this  may  with 
more  propriety  be  introduced  in  various  parts  of  the 
grounds  than  any  other  of  its  class,  as  the  luxuriance  and 
natural  gracefulness  of  the  foliage  which  covers  the  arbor, 
in  a  great  measure  destroys  or  overpowers  the  expression 
of  its   original   form.      Lattice   arbors,   however,   neatly 


456  LANDSCAfE    GARDENING. 

formed  of  rough  poles  and  posts,  are  much  more  pictu- 
resque  and  suitable  for  wilder  portions  of  the  scenery. 

The    temple   and    the   pavilion   are   highly 

finished   forms   of    covered   seats,    which    are 

=1-  occasionally    introduced    in    splendid    places, 

[Fig.  81]       ^vhere  classic  architecture  prevails.     There  is 

a  circular  pavilion  of  this  kind  at  the  termination  of  one 

of  the  walks  at   Mr.   Langdon's   residence,    Hyde  Park. 

Fig.  81. 

We  consider  rustic  seats  and  structures  as  likely  to  be 
much  preferred  in  the  villa  and  cottage  residences  of  the 
country.  They  have  the  merit  of  being  tasteful  and  pic- 
turesque in  their  appearance,  and  are  easily  constructed 
by  the  amateur,  at  comparatively  little  or  no  expense. 
There  is  scarcely  a  prettier  or  more 
r  pleasant  object  for  the  termination  of  a 
^^~^J^^^  long  walk  in  the  pleasure-grounds  or  park, 
than  a  neatly  thatched  structure  of  rustic  work,  with  its 
seat  for  repose,  and  a  view  of  the  landscape  beyond.  On 
finding  such  an  object,  we  are  never  tempted  to  think  that 
there  has  been  a  lavish  expenditure  to  serve  a  trifling 
purpose,  but  are  gratified  to  see  the  exercise  of  taste  and 
ingenuity,  which  completely  answers  the  end  in  view. 

Figure  82  is   an  example  of  a  simple  rustic 

seat  formed  of  the  crooked  and  curved  branches 

of  the  oak,  elm,  or  any  other  of  our  forest  trees 

[Fig.  83.]      Yicr.  83  is  a  seat  of  the  same  character,  made 

at  the  foot  of  a  tree,  whose  overhanging  branches  afford  a 

fine  shade. 

FifTure  84  is  a  covered  seat  or  rustic  arbor,  with  a 
thatched  roof  of  straw.  Twelve  posts  are  set  securely  in 
the   ground,  which   make   the  frame  of  this   structure,  the 


EMBELLISHMENTS. 


157 


^5  ^    :>  -y^,  -'^"g^ 


[Fiu.  84  ] 

openings  between  being  filled  in  with  branches  (about 
three  inches  in  diameter)  of  different  trees — the  more 
irregular  the  better,  so  that  the  perpendicular  surface  of 
the  exterior  and  interior  is  kept  nearly  equal.  In  lieu  of 
thatch,  the  roof  may  be  first  tightly  boarded,  and  then  a 
covering  of  bark  or  the  slabs  of  trees  with  the  bark  on, 
overlaid  and  nailed  on.  The  figure  represents  the  struc- 
ture as  formed  round  a  tree.  For  the  sake  of  variety  this 
might  be  omitted,  the  roof  formed  of  an  open  lattice  work 
of  branches  like  the  sides,  and  the  whole  covered  by  a 
grape,  bignonia,  or  some  other  vine  or  creeper  of  luxuriant 
growth.     The  seats  are  in  the  interior. 

Figure  85  represents  a  covered  seat  of  another  kind. 
The  central  structure,  which  is  circular,  is 
intended  for  a  collection  of  minerals,  shells, 
or  any  other  curious  objects  for  which  an 
amateur  might  have  a  'penchant.  Geo- 
logical or  mineralogical  specimens  of  the 
adjacent  neighborhood,  would  be  very  proper  for  such  a 
cabinet.  The  seat  surrounds  it  on  the  outside,  over  which 
is  a  thatched  roof  or  veranda,  supported  on  rustic  pillars 
formed  of  the  trunks  of  saplings,  with  the  bark  attached. 


P'ig.  85.] 


158  LANDSCAPE    GARDEfJING. 

Many  of  the  English  country  places  abound  with 
admirable  specimens  of  rustic  work  in  their  parks  and 
pleasure-grounds.  White  Knight's,  in  particular,  a  resi- 
dence of  the  Duke  of  Marlborough,  has  a  number  of 
beautiful  structures  of  this  kind.     Figure  86  is  a  view  of  a 


[Fig.  96.    Rustic  Covered  Seat.] 

round  seat  with  thatched  roof,  in  that  demesne.  Three  or 
four  rustic  pillars  support  the  architrave,  and  the  whole  of 
the  exterior  and  interior  (being  first  formed  of  frame- 
work) is  covered  with  straight  branches  of  the  maple  and 
larch.  The  seat  on  the  interior  looks  upon  a  fine  prospect ; 
and  the  seat  on  the  back  of  the  exterior  fronts  the  park. 

There  is  no  limit  to  the  variety  of  forms  and  patterns  in 
which  these  rustic  seats,  arbors,  summer-houses,  etc.,  can 
be  constructed  by  an  artist  of  some  fancy  and  ingenuity. 
After  the  frame-work  of  the  structure  is  formed  of  posts 
and  rough  boards,  if  small  straight  rods  about  an  inch  in 
diameter,  of  hazel,  white  birch,  maple,  etc.,  are  selected  in 
sufficient  quantity,  they  may  be  nailed  on  in  squares, 
diamonds,  medallions,  or  other  patterns,  and  have  the  effect 
of  a  mosaic  of  wood. 

Among  the  curious  results  of  this  fancy  for  rustic  work, 
we  may  mention  the  moss-house — erected  in  several  places 


EMBELLISHMENTS.  459 

abroad.  The  skeleton  or  frame-work  of  the  arbor  or  house 
is  formed  as  we  have  just  stated ;  over  this  small  rods  hali 
an  inch  in  diameter  are  nailed,  about  an  inch  from  centre 
to  centre  ;  after  the  whole  surface  is  covered  with  this  .sort 
of  rustic  lathing,  a  quantity  of  the  softer  wood-moss  of 
different  colors  is  collected ;  and  taking  small  parcels  in 
the  hand  at  a  time,  the  tops  being  evenly  arranged,  the 
bottoms  or  roots  are  crowded  closely  between  the  rods  with 
a  small  wooden  wedge.  When  this  is  done  with  some 
little  skill,  the  tufted  ends  spread  out  and  cover  the  rods 
entirely,  showing  a  smooth  surface  of  mosses  of  different 
colors,  which  has  an  effect  not  unlike  that  of  a  thick 
Brussels  carpet. 

The  mosses  retain  their  color  for  a  great  length  of  time, 
and  when  properly  rammed  in  with  the  wedge,  they  cannot 
be  pulled  out  again  without  breaking  their  tops.  The 
prettiest  example  which  we  have  seen  of  a  handsome 
moss-house  in  this  country,  is  at  the  residence  of  Wm.  H. 
Aspinv/all,  Esq.,  on  Staten  Island. 

A  prospect  tower  is  a  most  desirable  and  pleasant 
structure  in  certain  residences.  Where  the  view  is  com- 
paratively limited  from  the  grounds,  on  account  of  their 
surface  being  level,  or  nearly  so,  it  often  happens  that  the 
spectator,  by  being  raised  some  twenty-five  or  thirty  feet 
above  the  surface,  finds  himself  in  a  totally  different 
position,  whence  a  charming  coup  d'ceil  or  bird's-eye  view 
of  the  surrounding  country  is  obtained. 

Those  of  our  readers  who  may  have  visited  the  de- 
lightful garden  and  grounds  of  M.  Parmentier,  near 
Brooklyn,  some  half  a  dozen  years  since,  during  the  life- 
time of  that  amiable  and  zealous  amateur  of  horticulture; 
will  readily  remember  the  rustic  prospect-arbor,  or  tower, 


460  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

Fig.  87,  which  was  situated  at  the  extre- 
mity of  his  place.  It  was  one  of  the 
first  pieces  of  rustic  work  of  any  size, 
and  displaying  any  ingenuity,  that  wt 
remember  to  have  seen  here  ;  and  fronr 
its  summit,  though  the  garden  walks  afforded  no  prospect 
a  beautiful  reach  of  the  neighborhood  for  many  miles  was 
enjoyed. 

Figure  88  is  a  design  for  a  rustic  prospect  tower  of  three 
>,\^  stories  in  height,  with  a  double  thatched 
roof  It  is  formed  of  rustic  pillars  or  columns, 
which  are  well  fixed  in  the  ground,  and  which 
are  filled  in  with  a  fanciful  lattice  of  rustic 
branches.  A  spiral  staircase  winds  round 
[Fig.  88.]  the  interior  of  the  platform  of  the  second 
and  upper  stories,  where  there  are  seats  under  the  open 
thatched  roof. 

On  a  ferme  ornee,  where  the  proprietor  desires  to  give  a 
picturesque  appearance  to  the  different  appendages  of  the 
place,  rustic  work  offers  an  easy  and  convenient  method 
of  attaining  this  end.  The  dairy  is  sometimes  made  a 
detached  building,  and  in  this  country  it  may  be  built  of 
logs  in  a  tasteful  manner  with  a  thatched  roof;  the  interioi 
being  studded,  lathed,  and  plastered  in  the  usual  way.  Or 
the  ice-house,  which  generally  shows  but  a  rough  gable  and 
ridge  roof  rising  out  of  the  ground,  might  be  covei'ed  with 
a  neat  structure  in  rustic  work,  overgrown  with  vines, 
which  would  give  it  a  pleasing  or  picturesque  air,  instead 
of  leaving  it,  as  at  present,  an  unsightly  object  which  we 
are  anxious  to  conceal. 

A  species  of  useful  decoration,  which  is  perhaps  more 
naturally  suggested  t'^in  any  other,  is  the  bridge.     Where 


EMBELLISHMElvTS.  4t,J 

a  constant  stream,  of  greater  or  less  size,  runs  through  the 
grounds,  and  divides  the  banks  on  opposite  sides,  a  bridge 
of  some  description,  if  it  is  only  a  narrow  plank  over  a 
rivulet,  is  highly  necessary.  In  pieces  of  artificial  water 
that  are  irregular  in  outline,  a  narrow  strait  is  often  pur- 
posely made,  with  the  view  of  introducing  a  bridge  for 
eflect. 

When  the  stream  is  large  and  bold,  a  handsome  archi- 
tectural bridge  of  stone  or  timber  is  by  far  the  most  suitable ; 
especially  if  the  stream  is  near  the  house,  or  if  ii  is  crossed 
on  the  Approach  road  to  the  mansion  ;  because  a  character 
of  permanence  and  solidity  is  requisite  in  such  cases.  But 
when  it  is  only  a  winding  rivulet  or  crystal  brook,  which 
meanders  along  beneath  the  shadow  of  tufts  of  clustering 
foliage  of  the  pleasure-ground  or  park,  a  rustic  bridge  may 

[^  /^7*'  ^®  brought  in  with  the  happiest  effect. 

.;  Fig.  89  is  a  rustic  bridge  erected  under 
our  direction.     The  foundation  is  made 
[Fig.  89.J  i^y  laying  down    a   few   large  square 

stones  beneath  the  surface  on  both  sides  of  the  stream  to 
be  spanned ;  upon  these  are  stretched  two  round  posts  or 
sleepers  with  the  bark  on,  about  eight  or  ten  inches  in 
diameter.  The  rustic  hand-rail  is  framed  into  these  two 
sleepers.  The  floor  of  the  bridge  is  made  by  laying  down 
small  posts  of  equal  size,  about  four  or  six  inches  in  diame- 
ter, crosswise  upon  the  sleepers,  and  nailing  them  down 
securely.  The  bark  is  allowed  to  remain  on  in  every 
piece  of  wood  employed  in  the  construction  of  this  little 
bridge ;  and  when  the  wood  is  cut  at  the  proper  season 
(durable  kinds  being  chosen),  such  a  bridge,  well  made 
will  remain  in  excellent  order  for  many  years. 

Rockwork  is  another  kind  of  decoration  sometimes  intro- 


462 


LANDSCAPE    GARDENING. 


duced  in  particular  portions  of  the  scenery  of  a  residence, 
Fig.  90.  When  well  executed,  that  is,  so  as  to  have  a 
natural  and  harmonious  expression,  the  effect  is  highly 
pleasing.     We  have  seen,  however,  in  places  where  a  higb 


[Fig.  90.    Rockwork.J 


keeping  and  good  taste  otherwise  prevailed,  such  a  barba- 
rous melange,  or  confused  pile  of  stones  mingled  with  soil, 
and  planted  over  with  dwarfish  plants  dignified  with  the 
name  of  rockwork,  that  we  have  been  led  to  believe  that  it  is 
much  better  to  attempt  nothing  of  the  kind,  unless  there  is 
a  suitable  place  for  its  display,  and  at  the  same  time,  the 
person  attempting  it  is  sufficiently  an  artist,  imbued  with 
the  spirit  of  nature  in  her  various  compositions  and  com- 
binations, to  be  able  to  produce  something  higher  than  a 
caricature  of  her  works. 

The  object  of  rockwork  is  to  produce  in  scenery  or  por- 
tions of  a  scene,  naturally  in  a  great  measure  destitute 
of  groups  of  rocks  and  their  accompanying  drapery  of 
plants  and  foliage,  something  of  the  picturesque  eflfect  which 
such  natural  assemblages  confer.  To  succeed  in  this,  it  is 
evident  that  we  must  not  heap  up  little  hillocks  of  mould 


EMBELLISHMENTS.  463 

and  smooth  stones,  in  the  midst  of  an  open  lawn,  or  the 
centre  of  a  flower-garden.  But  if  we  can  make  choice  of 
a  situation  where  a  rocky  bank  or  knoll  already  partially 
exists,  or  would  be  in  keeping  with  the  form  of  the  ground 
and  the  character  of  the  scene,  then  we  may  introduce 
such  accompaniments  with  the  best  possible  hope  of 
success. 

It  often  happens  in  a  place  of  considerable  extent,  that 
somewhere  in  conducting  the  walks  through  the  grounds, 
we  meet  with  a  ridge  with  a  small  rocky  face,  or  perhaps 
with  a  large  rugged  single  rock,  or  a  bank  where  rocky 
summits  just  protrude  themselves  through  the  surface.  The 
common  feeling  against  such  uncouth  objects,  would  direct 
them  to  be  cleared  aw^ay  at  once  out  of  sight.  But  let  us 
take  the  case  of  the  large  rugged  rock,  and  commence  our 
picturesque  operations  upon  it.  We  will  begin  by  collect- 
ing from  some  rocky  hill  or  valley  in  the  neighborhood  of 
the  estate,  a  sufBcient  quantity  of  rugged  rocks,  in  size 
from  a  few  pounds  to  half  a  ton  or  more,  if  necessary,  pre- 
ferring always  such  as  are  already  coated  with  mosses  and 
lichens.  These  we  will  assemble  around  the  base  of  a  large 
rock,  in  an  irregular  somewhat  pyramidal  group,  bedding 
them  sometimes  partially,  sometimes  almost  entirely  in  soil 
heaped  in  irregular  piles  around  the  rock.  The  rocks 
must  be  arranged  in  a  natural  manner,  avoiding  all  regu- 
larity and  appearance  of  formal  art,  but  placing  them 
sometimes  in  groups  of  half  a  dozen  together,  overhanging 
each  other,  and  sometimes  half  bedded  in  the  soil,  and  a 
little  distance  apart.  There  are  no  rules  to  be  given  ibi 
such  operations,  but  the  study  of  natural  groups,  of  i 
character  similar  to  that  which  we  wish  to  produce,  will 
afford  sufficient  hints  if  the  artist  is 


464  LANDSCAPE    GARDENING. 

"  Prodigue  de  genie," 

and  has    a  perception   of  the  natural   beauty  which   he 
desires  to  imitate. 

The  rockwork  once  formed,  choice  trailing,  creeping,  and 
alpine  plants,  such  as  delight  naturally  in  similar  situations, 
may  be  planted  in  the  soil  which  fills  the  interstices  between 
the  rocks :  when  these  grow  to  fill  their  proper  places, 
partly  concealing  and  adorning  the  rocks  with  their  neat 
green  foliage  and  pretty  blossoms,  the  effect  of  the  whole, 
if  properly  done,  will  be  like  some  exquisite  portion  of  a 
rocky  bank  in  wild  scenery,  and  will  be  found  to  give  an 
air  at  once  striking  and  picturesque  to  the  little  scene 
where  it  is  situated. 

In  small  places  where  the  grounds  are  extremely  limited, 
and  the  owner  wishes  to  form  a  rockwork  for  the  growth 
of  alpine  and  other  similar  plants,  if  there  are  no  natural 
indications  of  a  rocky  surface,  a  rockwork  may  sometimes 
be  introduced  without  violating  good  taste  by  preparing 
natural  indications  artificially,  if  we  may  use  such  a  term. 
If  a  few  of  the  rocks  to  be  employed  in  the  rockwork  are 
sunk  half  or  three-fourths  their  depth  in  the  soil  near  the 
site  of  the  proposed  rockwork,  so  as  to  have  the  ap- 
pearance of  a  rocky  ridge  just  cropping  out,  as  the 
geologists  say,  then  the  rockwork  will,  to  the  eye  of  a 
spectator,  seem  to  be  connected  with,  and  growing  out  of 
this  rocky  spur  or  ridge  below :  or,  in  other  words,  there 
will  be  an  obvious  reason  for  its  being  situated  there, 
instead  of  its  presenting  a  wholly  artificial  appearance. 

In  a  previous  page,  when  treating  of  the  banks  of  pieces 
of  water  formed  by  art,  we  endeavored  to  show  how  tlie 
natural  appearance  of  such  banks  would  be  improved  by 
the  iudicious  introduction  of  rocks  partially  imbedded  into 


EMBELLISHMENTS.  465 

and  holding  them  up.  Such  situations,  in  the  case  of  a 
small  lake  or  pond,  or  a  brook,  are  admirable  sites  for  rock- 
work.  Where  the  materials  of  a  suitable  kind  are 
abundant,  and  tasteful  ingenuity  is  not  wanting,  surprising 
effects  may  be  produced  in  a  small  space.  Caves  and 
grottoes,  where  ferns  and  mosses  would  thrive  admirably 
with  the  gentle  drip  from  the  roof,  might  be  made  of  the 
overarching  rocks  arranged  so  as  to  appear  like  small 
natural  caverns.  Let  the  exterior  be  partially  planted  with 
low  shrubs  and  climbing  plants,  as  the  wild  Clematis,  and 
the  effect  of  such  bits  of  landscape  could  not  but  be 
agreeable  in  secluded  portions  of  the  grounds. 

In  many  parts  of  the  country,  the  secondary  blue 
limestone  abounds,  which,  in  the  small  masses  found  loose 
in  the  woods,  covered  with  mosses  and  ferns,  affords  the 
very  finest  material  for  artificial  rockwork.* 

After  all,  much  the  safest  way  is  never  to  introduce 
rockwork  of  any  description,  unless  we  feel  certain  that  it 
will  have  a  good  effect.  When  a  place  is  naturally 
picturesque,  and  abounds  here  and  there  with  rocky  banks, 
etc.,  little  should  be  done  but  to  heighten  and  aid  the 
expressions  of  these,  if  they  are  wanting  in  spirit,  by 
adding  something  more  ;  or  softening  and  giving  elegance 
to  the  expression,  if  too  wild,  by  planting  the  same  with 


*  Our  readers  may  see  an  engraving  and  description  of  a  superb  extravaganza 
in  rockwork  in  a  late  number  of  Loudon's  Gardener's  Magazine.  Lady 
Broughton,  of  Hoole  House,  Chester,  England,  has  succeeded  in  forming, 
round  a  natural  valley,  an  imitation  of  the  hills,  glaciers,  and  scenery  of  a 
passage  in  Switzerland.  The  whole  is  done  in  rockwork,  the  snow-covered 
summits  being  represented  in  white  spar.  The  appropriate  plants,  trees,  and 
shrubs  on  a  small  scale,  are  introduced,  and  the  illusion,  to  a  spectator  standing 
in  the  valley  surrounded  by  these  glaciers,  is  said  to  be  wonderfully  striking 
and  complete. 

30 


466 


LANDSCAPE    GARDENING. 


beautiful  shrubs  and  climbers.  On  a  tame  sandy  level, 
where  rocks  of  any  kind  are  unknown,  their  introduction 
in  rockworks,  nine  times  in  ten,  is  more  likely  to  give  rise 
to  emotions  of  the  ridiculous,  than  those  of  the  sublime  or 
picturesque. 

Fountains  are  highly  elegant  garden  decorations,  rarely 
seen  in  this  country ;  which  is  owing,  not  so  much,  we 
apprehend,  to  any  great  cost  incurred  in  putting  them  up, 
or  any  want  of  appreciation  of  their  sparkling  and 
enlivening  effect  in  garden  scenery,  as  to  the  fact  that  there 
are  few  artisans  here,  as  abroad,  whose  business  it  is  to 
construct  and  fit  up  architectural,  and  other  jets  d'eau. 

The  first  requisite,  where  a  fountain  is  a  desideratum,  is 
a  constant  supply  of  water,  either  from  a  natural  source 
or  an  artificial  reservoir,  some  distance  higher  than  the 
level  of  the  surface  whence  the  jet  or  fountain  is  to  rise. 


[Fig.  91.    Design  for  a  Fountain.] 


Where  there  is  a  pond,  or  other  body  of  water,  on  a  higher 
level  than  the  proposed  fountain,  it  is  only  necessary  to  lay 
pipes  under  the  surface  to  conduct  the  supply  of  water  to 


EMBELLISHMENTS.  467 

the  required  spot ;  but  where  there  is  no  such  head  of  water^ 
the  latter  must  be  provided  from  a  reservoir  artificially 
prepared,  and  kept  constantly  full. 

There  are  two  very  simple  and  cheap  modes  of  effecting 
this,  which  we  shall  lay  before  our  readers,  and  one  or  the 
other  of  which  may  be  adopted  in  almost  every  locality. 
The  first  is  to  provide  a  large  flat  cistern  of  sufficient  size, 
which  is  to  be  placed  under  the  roof  in  the  upper  story  of 
one  of  the  outbuildings,  the  carriage-house  for  example, 
and  receive  its  supplies  from  the  water  collected  on  the 
roof  of  the  building ;  the  amount  of  water  collected  in  this 
way  from  a  roof  of  moderate  size  being  much  more  than 
is  generally  supposed.  The  second  is  to  sink  a  well  of 
capacious  size  (where  such  is  not  already  at  command) 
in  some  part  of  the  grounds  where  it  will  not  be  con- 
spicuous, and  over  it  to  erect  a  small  tower,  the  top  of 
which  shall  contain  a  cistern,  and  a  small  horizontal  wind- 
mill ;  which  being  kept  in  motion  by  the  wind  more  or  les? 
almost  every  day  in  summer,  will  raise  a  sufficient  quantity 
of  water  to  keep  the  reservoir  supplied  from  the  well 
below.  In  either  of  these  cases,  it  is  only  necessary  to 
carry  leaden  pipes  from  the  cistern  (under  the  surface, 
below  the  reach  of  frost)  to  the  place  where  the  jet  is  to 
issue ;  the  supply  in  both  these  cases  will,  if  properly 
arranged,  be  more  than  enough  for  the  consumption  of  the 
fountain  during  the  hours  when  it  will  be  necessary  for  it 
to  play,  viz.  from  sunrise  to  evening. 

The  steam-engine  is  often  employed  to  force  up  water 
for  the  supply  of  fountains  in  many  of  the  large  public  and 
royal  gardens  ;  but  there  are  few  cases  in  this  country 
where  private  expenditures  of  this  kind  would  be  justifiable. 

But  where   a  small   stream,  or  even  the  overflow  of  a 


468  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

perpetual  spring,  can  be  commanded,  the  Hydraulic  Ram 
is  the  most  perfect  as  well  as  the  simplest  and  cheapest 
of  all  modes  of  raising  water.  A  supply  pipe  of  an  inch 
in  diameter  is  in  many  cases  sufficient  to  work  the  Ram 
and  force  water  to  a  great  distance ;  and  where  sufficient 
to  fill  a  "driving  pipe"  of  two  inches  diameter  can  be 
commanded,  a  large  reservoir  may  be  kept  constantly 
filled.  As  the  Hydraulic  Ram  is  now  for  sale  in  all  our 
cities  we  need  not  explain  its  action. 

"  In  conducting  the  water  from  the  cistern  or  reservoir 
to  the  jet  or  fountain,  the  following  particulars  require  to 
be  attended  to :  In  the  first  place,  all  the  pipes  must  be 
laid  sufficiently  deep  in  the  earth,  or  otherwise  placed  and 
protected  so  as  to  prevent  the  possibility  of  their  being 
reached  by  frost ;  next,  as  a  general  rule,  the  diameter  of 
the  orifice  from  which  the  jet  of  water  proceeds,  tech- 
nically called  the  bore  of  the  quill,  ought  to  be  four  times 
less  than  the  bore  of  the  conduit  pipe ;  that  is,  the  quill 
and  the  pipe  ought  to  be  in  a  quadruple  proportion  to 
each  other.  There  are  several  sorts  of  quills  or  spouts, 
which  throw  the  water  up  or  down,  into  a  variety  of 
forms  :  such  as  fans,  parasols,  sheaves,  showers,  mushrooms, 
inverted  bells,  etc.  The  larger  the  conduit  pipes  are,  the 
more  freely  will  the  jets  display  their  different  forms ;  and 
the  fewer  the  holes  in  the  quill  or  jet  (for  sometimes  this  is 
pierced  like  the  rose  of  a  watering  pot)  the  greater 
certainty  there  will  be  of  the  form  continuing  the  same; 
because  the  risk  of  any  of  the  holes  choking  up  will  be 
less.  The  diameter  of  a  conduit  pipe  ought  in  no  case 
to  be  less  than  one  inch ;  but  for  jets  of  very  large  size, 
the  diameter  ought  to  be  two  inches.  Where  the  conduit 
pipes  are  of  great  length,  say  upwards  of  1000  feet,  it  is 


EMBELLISHMENTS.  469 

found  advantageous  to  begin,  at  the  reservoir  or  cistern 
with  pipes  of  a  diameter  somewhat  greater  than  those 
which  dehver  the  water  to  the  quills,  because  the  water,  in 
a  pipe  of  uniform  diameter  of  so  great  a  length,  is  found 
to  lose  much  of  its  strength,  and  become  what  is  tech 
nically  called  sleepy  :  while  the  different  sizes  quicken  it, 
and  redouble  its  force.  For  example,  in  a  conduit  pipe  of 
1800  feet  in  length,  the  first  six  hundred  feet  may  be  laid 
with  pipes  of  eight  inches  in  diameter,  the  next  600  feet 
with  pipes  of  six  inches  in  diameter,  and  the  last  600  feet 
with  pipes  of  four  inches  in  diameter.  In  conduits  not 
exceeding  900  feet,  the  same  diameter  may  be  continued 
throughout.  When  several  jets  are  to  play  in  several 
fountains,  or  in  the  same,  it  is  not  necessary  to  lay  a  fresh 
pipe  from  each  jet  to  the  reservoir  ;  a  main  of  sufficient 
size,  with  branch  pipes  to  each  jet,  being  all  that  is  required. 
Where  the  conduit  pipe  enters  the  reservoir  or  cistern,  it 
ought  to  be  of  increased  diameter,  and  the  grating  placed 
over  it  to  keep  out  leaves  and  other  matters  which  might 
choke  it  up,  ought  to  be  semi-globular  or  conical ;  so  that 
the  area  of  the  number  of  holes  in  it  may  exceed  the 
area  of  the  orifice  of  the  conduit  pipe.  The  object  is  to 
prevent  any  diminution  of  pressure  from  the  body  of 
water  in  the  cistern,  and  to  facilitate  the  flow  of  the 
water.  Where  the  conduit  pipe  joins  the  fountain,  there, 
of  course,  ought  to  be  a  cock  for  turning  the  water  off  and 
on ;  and  particular  care  must  be  taken  that  as  much  water 
rr.ay  pass  through  the  oval  hole  of  this  cock  as  passes 
through  the  circular  hole  of  the  pipe.  In  conduit  pipes,  all 
elbows,  bendings,  and  right  angles  should  be  avoided  as 
much  as'  possible,  since  they  diminish  the  force  of  the 
water.     In  very  long  conduit  pipes,  air-holes  formed  by 


470 


LANDSCAIE    GARDENING. 


solderincr  on  upright  pieces  of  pipe,  terminating  in  inverted 
valves  or  suckers,  should  be  made  at  convenient  distances, 
and  protected  by  shafts  built  of  stone  or  brick,  and  covered 
with  movable  gratings,  in  order  to  let  out  the  air.  Where 
pipes  ascend  and  descend  on  very  irregular  surfaces, 
the  strain  on  the  lowest  parts  of  the  pipe  is  always  the 
greatest;  unless  care  is  taken  to  relieve  this  by  the 
judicious  disposition  of  cocks  and  air-holes.  Without  this 
precaution,  pipes  conducted  over  irregular  surfaces  will 
not  last  nearly  so  long  as  those  conducted  over  a  level." — 
Encycl.  of  Cottage,  Farm,  and  Villa  Architecture, 
page  989. 

Where  the  reservoir  is  but  a  short  distance,  as  from  a 
dozen  to  fifty  yards,  all  that  is  necessary  is  to  lay  the  con- 
duit pipes  on  a  regular  uniform  slope,  to  secure  a  steady 
uninterrupted  flow  of  water.  Owing  to  the  friction  in  the 
pipes,  and  pressure  of  the  atmosphere,  the  water  in  the 
fountain  will  of  course,  in  no  case,  rise  quite  as  high  as  the 
level  of  the  water  in  the  reservoir  ;  but  it  will  nearly  as 
high.  For  example,  if  the  reservoir  is  ten  feet  four  inches 
high,  the  water  in  the  jet  will  only  rise  ten  feet,  and  in  like 
proportion  for  the  different  heights.     The  following  table* 


Height  of  the 

Diiiineter 

of  the 

Diameters  of  the 

Height  the  water 

Reservoir. 

Conduit 

pipes. 

Orifices. 

will  rise  to. 

Feet.      1     Inches. 

Inches.    | 

Lines. 

Lines.      1      Parts. 

Feet.    1    Inches. 

5             1 

0 

22 

4             0 

5           0 

10             4 

0 

25 

5             0 

10            0 

15             9 

2i 

0 

G             0 

15           0 

21             4 

2^ 

0 

6i           0 

20           0 

33             0 

3 

0 

7             0 

30           0 

45            4 

4^ 

0 

7             8 

40           0 

58             4 

5 

0 

8            10 

50           0 

72             0 

5^ 

0 

10            12 

60           0 

86            4 

6 

0 

1-2            14 

70           0 

100             0 

7 

0 

12            15 

80           0 

*  Switzer's  Introduction  to  a  General  System  of  Hydrostatics. 


EMBELLIrfUMENTS.  471 

shows  w.th  a  given  height  of  reservoirs  and  diameter  of 
conduit  pipes  and  orifices,  the  height  to  which  the  water 
will  rise  in  the  fountain. 

A  simple  jet  (Fig.  92)  issuing  from  a  circular  basin  of 
water,  or  a  cluster  of  perpendicular  jets  (candelabra  jets), 
is  at  once  the  simplest  and  most  pleasing  of 
fountains.  Such  are  almost  the  only  kinds 
of  fountains  which  can  be  introduced  with 
[Fi^Sf^*"  propriety  in  simple  scenes  where  the  pre 
dominant  objects  are  sylvan,  not  architectural. 

Weeping,  or  Tazza  Fountains,  as  they  are  called,  ara 

simple  and  highly  pleasing  objects,  which  require  only  a 

pA^'\ " ?i""'"T """!' '''"nrii^^?  very  moderate  supply  of  water  com- 

lijj'.^^^m^^^^lii'l'j;  pared    with    that    demanded    by    a 

!,V'' i!/!|li:!i:^^^'' ',' i.'i'l'Kvi'  constant    and   powerful   iet.      The 

:,  ||i^|''':j^^l\^i;i!  :!  ,jl|!;'i    conduit  pipe  rises  through  and  fills 

[Fig.  93.  Tazza  Founuin.]     the  vase,  which  is  so  formed  as  to 

overflow  round  its  entire  margin.     Figure  93  represents  a 

beautiful  Grecian  vase  for  tazza  fountains.     The  ordinary 

jet  and  the  tazza  fountain  may  be  combined  in  one,  when 

the  supply  of  water  is  sufficient,  by  carrying  the  conduit 

pipe  to  the  level  of  the  top  of  the  vase,  from  which  the 

water  rises  perpendicularly,  then  falls  back  into  the  vase 

and  overflows  as  before. 

We  might  enumerate  and  figure  a  great  many  other 
designs  for  fountains  ;  but  the  connoisseur  will  receive 
more  ample  information  on  this  head  than  we  are  able  to 
afford,  from  the  numerous  French  works  devoted  to  this 
branch  of  Rural  Embellishment. 

A  species  of  rustic  fountain  which  has  a  good  effect,  is 
made  by  introducing  the  conduit  pipe  or  pipes  among  the 
groups  of  rochicork  alluded  to,  from  whence  (the  orifice  of 


472  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 

the  pipe  being  concealed  or  disguised)  the  water  issues 
among  the  rocks  either  in  the  form  of  a  cascade,  a  weep- 
ing fountain,  or  a  perpendicular  jet.  A  little  basin  of 
water  is  formed  at  the  foot  or  in  the  midst  of  the  rockwork  ; 
and  the  cool  moist  atmosphere  afforded  by  the  trickling 
streams,  would  offer  a  most  congenial  site  for  aquatic 
plants,  ferns,  and  mosses. 

Fountains  of  a  highly  artificial  character  are  happily 
situated  only  when  they  are  placed  in  the  neighborhood  of 
buildings  and  architectural  forms.  When  only  a  single 
fountain  can  be  maintained  in  a  residence,  the  centre  of 
the  flower-garden,  or  the  neighborhood  of  the  piazza  or 
terrace-walk,  is,  we  think,  much  the  most  appropriate 
situation  for  it.  There  the  liquid  element,  dancing  and 
sparkling  in  the  sunshine,  is  an  agreeable  feature  in  the 
scene,  as  viewed  from  the  windows  of  the  rooms  ;  and  the 
falling  watery  spray  diffusing  coolness  around  is  no  less 
delightful  in  the  surrounding  stillness  of  a  summer  evening. 

After  all  that  we  have  said  respecting  architectural  and 
rustic  decorations  of  the  grounds,  we  must  admit  that  it 
requires  a  great  deal  of  good  taste  and  judgment,  to 
introduce  and  distribute  them  so  as  to  be  in  good  keeping 
with  the  scenery  of  country  residences.  A  country  resi- 
dence, where  the  house  with  a  few  tasteful  groups  of 
flowers  and  shrubs,  and  a  pretty  lawn,  with  clusters  and 
groups  of  luxuriant  trees,  are  all  in  high  keeping  and 
evincing  high  order,  is  far  more  beautiful  and  pleasing 
than  the  same  place,  or  even  one  of  much  larger  extent, 
where  a  profusion  of  statues,  vases,  and  fountains,  or 
rockwork  and  rustic  scats,  are  distributed  throughout  the 
garden  and  grounds,  while  the  latter,  in  themselves,  show 


EMBELLlSHiMENTS.  473 

slovenly  keeping,  and  a  crude  and  meagre  knowledge  of 
design  in  Landscape  Gardening. 

Unity  of  expression  is  the  maxim  and  guide  in  thii 
department  of  the  art,  as  in  every  other.  Decorations  can 
never  be  introduced  with  good  effect,  when  they  are  at 
variance  with  the  character  of  surrounding  objects.  A 
beautiful  and  highly  architectural  villa  may,  with  the 
greatest  propriety,  receive  the  decorative  accompaniments 
of  elegant  vases,  sundials,  or  statues,  should  the  proprietor 
choose  to  display  his  wealth  and  taste  in  this  manner ;  but 
these  decorations  would  be  totally  misapplied  in  the  case 
of  a  plain  square  edifice,  evincing  no  architectural  style  in 
itself. 

In  addition  to  this,  there  is  great  danger  that  a  mere 
lover  of  fine  vases  may  run  into  the  error  of  assembling 
these  objects  indiscriminately  in  difTerent  parts  of  his 
grounds,  where  they  have  really  no  place,  but  interfere 
with  the  quiet  character  of  surrounding  nature.  He  may 
overload  the  gi'ounds  with  an  unmeaning  distribution  of 
sculpturesque  or  artificial  forms,  instead  of  working  up 
those  parts  where  art  predominates  in  such  a  manner,  by 
means  of  appropriate  decorations,  as  to  heighten  by  con- 
trast the  beauty  of  the  whole  adjacent  landscape. 

With  regard  to  pavilions,  summer-houses,  rustic  seats, 
and  garden  edifices  of  like  character,  they  should,  if 
possible,  in  all  cases  be  introduced  where  they  are 
manifestly  appropriate  or  in  harmony  with  the  scene. 
Thus  a  grotto  should  not  be  formed  in  the  side  of  an 
open  bank,  but  in  a  deep  shadowy  recess ;  a  classic 
temple  or  pavilion  may  crown  a  beautiful  and  prominent 
knoll,  and  a  rustic  covered  seat  may  occupy  a  secluded. 


474  LANDSCAPE  GAUDENrNG. 

quiet  portion  of  the  grounds,  where  undisturbed  meditatior 
may  be  enjoyed.     As  our  favorite  DeHUe  says  : 

"  Sachez  ce  qui  cbnvient  ou  nuit  au  caractere. 
Un  reduit  e carte,  daus  un  lieu  solitaire, 
Peint  mieux  la  solitude  encore  et  I'abandon. 
Montrez-vous  done  fidele  a  chaque  expression  ; 
N'allez  pas  au  grand  jour  offrir  un  ermitage  : 
Ne  cachez  point  un  temple  au  fond  d'un  bois  sauvage." 

Les  Jardins. 

Or  if  certain  objects  are  unav^oidably  placed  in  situations 
of  inimical  expression,  the  artist  should  labor  to  alter  the 
character  of  the  locality.  How  much  this  can  be  done  by 
the  proper  choice  of  trees  and  shrubs,  and  the  proper 
arrangement  of  plantations,  those  who  have  seen  the 
difference  in  aspect  of  certain  favorite  localities  of  wild 
nature,  as  covered  with  wood,  or  as  denuded  by  the  axe, 
can  well  judge.  And  we  hope  the  amateur,  who  has 
made  himself  famihar  with  the  habits  and  peculiar 
expressions  of  different  trees,  as  pointed  out  in  this  work, 
will  not  find  himself  at  a  loss  to  effect  such  changes,  by 
the  aid  of  time,  with  ease  and  facility. 


APPENDIX. 


I. 

Notes  on  transplanting  trees.  Reasons  for  frequent  failures  in  removing  large  trees. 
Directions  for  performing  this  operation.  Selection  of  subjects.  Preparing  trees  for 
removal.    Transplanting  evergreens. 

There  is  no  subject  on  which  the  professional  horticulturist  is  more 
frequently  consulted  in  America,  than  transplanting  trees.  And,  as  it 
is  an  essential  branch  of  Landscape  Gardening — indeed,  perhaps,  the 
most  important  and  necessary  one  to  be  practically  understood  in  the 
improvement  or  embellishment  of  new  country  residences — we  shall 
offer  a  few  remarks  here,  with  the  hope  of  rendering  it  a  more  easy 
and  successful  practice  in  the  hands  of  amateurs. 

Although  there  are  great  numbers  of  acres  of  beautiful  woods  and 
groves,  the  natural  growth  of  the  soil,  in  most  of  the  older  states,  yet 
a  considerable  portion  of  our  ordinary  country  seats  are  meagrely 
clothed  with  trees,  while  many  beautiful  sites  for  residences  have,  in 
past  years,  been  so  denuded  that  the  nakedness  of  their  appearance  con- 
stitutes a  serious  objection  to  them  as  places  of  residence.  To  be  able, 
therefore,  to  transplant,  from  natural  copses,  trees  of  ten  or  twenty 
years'  growth,  is  so  universally  a  desideratum,  that  great  numbers  of 
experiments  are  made  annually  with  this  view  ;  though  few  persons 
succeed  in  obtaining  what  they  desire,  viz.  the  immediate  effect  of 
wood ;  partly  from  a  want  of  knowledge  of  the  nature  of  vegetable 
physiology,  and  partly  from  malpractice  in  the  operation  of  removal 
itself 
•     When    the    admirably   written  "Planter's   Guide,"  by   Sir  Henrv 


476  APPENDIX. 

Steuart,  made  its  appearance  some  ten  years  ago,  not  only  describing 
minutely  the  whole  theory  of  transp.anting  nearly  full  grown  trees,  but 
placing  before  its  readers  a  report  of  a  committee  of  the  Highland 
Society  of  Edinburgh  attesting  the  complete  success  of  the  practice, 
as  exemplified  in  the  woods,  copses,  and  groups,  which,  removed  by 
the  transplanting  machine,  beautified  with  their  verdure  and  luxuriance 
the  baronet's  own  park,  the  whole  matter  of  transplanting  was  appa- 
rently cleared  up,  and  numbers  of  individuals  in  this  country,  with  san- 
guine hopes  of  success,  set  about  the  removal  of  large  forest  trees. 

Of  the  numerous  trials  made  upon  this  method,  with  trees  of  extra 
size,  we  have  known  but  a  very  few  instances  of  even  tolerable  success. 
This  is  no  doubt  owing  partly  to  the  want  of  care  and  skill  in  the 
practical  part  of  the  process,  but  mainly  to  the  ungenial  nature  of  our 
climate. 

The  climate  of  Scotland  during  four-fiftiis  of  the  year  is,  in  some 
respects,  the  exact  opposite  of  that  of  the  United  States.  An  atmo- 
sphere which,  for  full  nine  months  of  the  twelve,  is  copiously  charged 
with  fogs,  mist,  and  dampness,  may  undoubtedly  be  considered  as  the 
most  favorable  in  the  world  for  restoring  the  weakened  or  impaired 
vital  action  of  large  transplanted  trees.  In  this  country,  on  the  con- 
trary, the  dry  atmosphere  and  constant  evaporation  under  the  brilliant 
sun  of  our  summers,  are  most  important  obstacles  with  which  the 
transplanter  has  to  contend,  and  whicii  render  complete  success  so 
much  more  difficult  here  than  in  Scotland.  And  we  would  therefore 
rarely  attempt  in  this  country  the  extensive  removal  of  trees  larger  than 
twenty  feet  in  height.  When  of  the  size  of  fifteen  feet  they  are  suf- 
ficiently large  to  produce  very  considerable  immediate  effect,  while  they 
are  not  so  large  as  to  be  costly  or  very  difiicult  to  remove,  or  to  suffei 
greatly  by  the  change  of  position,  like  older  ones. 

The  great  want  of  success  in  transplanting  trees  of  moderate  size 
in  this  country  arises,  as  we  conceive,  mainly  from  two  causes ;  the 
first,  a  want  of  skill  in  performing  the  operation,  arising  chiefly  from 
ignorance  of  the  nature  of  the  vital  action  of  plants,  in  roots,  branches, 
etc.,  and  the  second,  a  bad  or  improper  selection  of  subjects  on  which 
the  operation  is  to  be  performed.  Either  of  these  causes  would  ac- 
count for  bad  success  in  removals ;  and  where,  as  is  frequently  the 


APPENDIX,  477 

case,  both  are  combined,  total  failure  can  scarcely  be  a  matter  of  sur 
prise  to  those  really  familiar  with  the  matter. 

An  uninformed  spectator,  who  should  witness  for  the  first  time  the 
removal  of  a  forest  tree,  as  ordinarily  performed  by  many  persons, 
would  scarcely  suppose  that  anything  beyond  mere  physical  slrengih 
was  required.  Commencing  as  near  the  tree  as  possible,  cutting  off 
many  of  the  roots,  with  the  very  smallest  degree  of  reluctance, 
wrenching  the  remaming  mass  out  of  their  bed  as  speedily  and  almost 
as  roughly  as  possible,  the  operator  hastens  to  complete  his  destructive 
process,  by  cutting  off  the  best  part  of  the  head  of  the  tree,  to  make 
"t  correspond  with  the  reduced  state  of  the  roots.  Arrived  at  the  hole 
prepared  for  its  reception,  his  replanting  consists  in  shovelling  in,  while 
the  tree  is  held  upright,  the  surrounding  soil,  paying  little  or  no  regard 
to  filling  up  all  the  small  interstices  among  the  roots ;  and  finally,  after 
treading  the  earth  as  hard  as  possible,  completing  the  whole  by  pouring 
two  or  three  pails  of  water  upon  the  top  of  the  ground.  How  any 
reflecting  person,  who  looks  upon  a  plant  as  a  delicately  organized  indi- 
vidual, can  reasonably  expect  or  hope  for  success  after  such  treatment 
in  transplanting,  is  what  we  never  could  fully  understand.  And  it  has 
always,  therefore,  appeared  pretty  evident  that  all  such  operators  must 
have  very  crude  and  imperfect  notions  of  vegetable  physiology,  or  the 
structure  and  functions  of  plants. 

The  first  and  most  important  consideration  in  transplanting  should 
be  the  'preservation  of  the  roots.  By  this  we  do  not  mean  a  certain  bulk 
of  the  larger  and  more  important  ones  only,  but  as  far  as  possible  all 
the  numerous  small  fibres  and  rootlets  so  indispensably  necessary  in 
assisting  the  tree  to  recover  from  the  shock  of  removal.  The  coarser 
and  larger  roots  serve  to  secure  the  tree  in  its  position,  and  convey  the 
fluids  ;  but  it  is  by  means  of  the  small  fibrous  roots,  or  the  delicate  and 
numerous  points  of  these  fibres  called  spongioles,  that  the  food  of 
plants  is  imbibed,  and  the  destruction  of  such  is  manifestly  in  the 
highest  degree  fatal  to  the  success  of  the  transplanted  tree.  To  avoid 
this  as  far  as  practicable,  we  should,  in  removing  a  tree,  commence  at 
such  a  distance  as  to  include  a  circumference  large  enough  to  comprise 
the  great  majority  of  the  roots.  At  that  distance  from  the  trunk  we 
shall  find  most  of  the  smaller  roots,  which  should  be  carefully  loosened 


478  APPENDIX. 

from  the  soil,  with  as  little  Injury  as  possible ;  the  earth  should  he 
gently  and  gradually  removed  from  the  larger  roots,  as  we  proceed 
onward  from  the  extremity  of  the  circle  to  the  centre,  and  when  we 
reach  the  nucleus  of  roots  surrounding  the  trunk,  and  fairly  undermine 
the  whole,  we  shall  find  ourselves  in  possession  of  a  tree  in  such  a  per- 
fect condition,  that  even  when  of  considerable  size,  we  may  confident- 
ly hope  for  a  speedy  recovery  of  its  former  luxuriance  after  being 
replanted. 

Now  to  remove  a  tree  in  this  manner,  requires  not  only  a  considera^ 
ble  degree  of  experience,  which  is  only  to  be  acquired  by  practice,  but 
also  much  patience  and  perseverance  while  engaged  in  the  work.  It  is 
not  a  difficult  task  to  remove,  in  a  careless  manner,  four  or  five  trees  in 
a  day,  of  fifteen  feet  in  height,  by  the  assistance  of  three  or  four  men, 
and  proper  implements  of  removal,  while  one  or  two  trees  only  can  be 
removed  if  the  roots  and  branches  are  preserved  entire  or  nearly  so. 
Yet  in  the  latter  case,  if  the  work  be  well  performed,  we  shall  have  the 
satisfaction  of  beholding  the  subjects,  when  removed,  soon  taking  fresh 
root,  and  becoming  vigorous  healthy  trees,  with  fine  luxuriant  heads, 
while  three-fourths  of  the  former  will  most  probably  perish,  and  the 
remainder  struggle  for  several  years,  under  the  loss  of  so  large  a  por- 
tion of  their  roots  and  branches,  before  they  entirely  recover,  and  put 
on  the  appearance  of  handsome  trees. 

When  a  tree  is  carelessly  transplanted,  and  the  roots  much  mutilated, 
the  operator  feels  obliged  to  reduce  the  top  accordingly ;  as  experience 
teaches  him,  that  although  the  leaves  may  expand,  yet  they  will  soon 
perish  without  a  fresh  supply  of  food  from  the  roots.  But  when  the 
largest  portion  of  the  roots  are  carefully  taken  up  with  the  tree, 
pruning  should  be  less  resorted  to,  and  thus  the  original  symmetry  and 
beauty  of  the  head  retained.  When  this  is  the  case,  the  leaves  contri- 
bute as  much,  by  their  peculiar  action  in  elaborating  the  sap,  towards 
re-establishing  the  tree,  as  the  roots;  and  indeed  the  two  act  so  re- 
ciprocally with  each  other,  that  any  considerable  injury  to  the  one 
always  affects  the  other.  "  The  functions  of  respiration,  perspiration, 
and  dio-estion,"  says  Professor  Lindley,  "  which  are  the  particular  of- 
fices of  leaves,  are  essential  to  the  health  of  a  plant ;  its  healthiness 
being  in  proportion  to  tho  degree  in  which  these  functions  are  duly 


APPENDIX.  479 

performed.  The  leaf  is  in  reality  a  natural  contriv£.nce  for  exposing  a 
large  surf\ice  to  the  influence  of  external  agents,  by  wliose  assistance 
the  crude  sap  contained  in  the  stem  is  altered,  and  rendered  suitable  to 
the  particular  wants  of  the  species,  and  for  returning  into  the  general 
circulation,  the  fluids  in  their  matured  condition.  In  a  word,  the  leaf 
of  a  plant  is  its  lungs  and  stomach  traversed  by  a  system  of  veins."* 
All  the  pruning,  therefore,  that  is  necessary,  when  a  tree  is  properly 
transplanted,  will  be  comprised  in  paring  smooth  all  bruises  or  acci- 
dental injuries,  received  by  the  roots  or  branches  during  the  operation, 
or  the  removal  of  a  few  that  may  interfere  with  elegance  of  form  in  the 
head. 

Next  in  importance  to  the  requisite  care  in  performing  the  operation 
of  transplanting,  is  the  proper  choice  of  i7idividual  trees  to  be  transplanted 
In  making  selections  for  removal  among  our  fine  forest  trees,  it  should 
never  be  forgotten  that  there  are  two  distinct  kinds  of  subjects,  even 
of  the  same  species  of  every  tree,  viz.  those  that  grow  among  and 
surrounded  by  other  trees  or  woods,  and  those  which  grow  alone,  in 
free  open  exposures,  where  they  are  acted  upon  by  the  winds,  storms, 
and  sunshine,  at  all  times  and  seasons.  The  former  class  it  will  alway.» 
be  exceedingly  difficult  to  transplant  successfully  even  with  the 
greatest  care,  while  the  latter  may  always  be  removed  with  compara- 
tively little  ri>k  of  failure. 

Any  one  who  is  at  all  familiar  with  the  growth  of  trees  in  woods  or 
groves  somewhat  dense,  is  also  aware  of  the  great  difference  in  the 
external  appearance  between  such  trees  and  those  which  stand  singly 
in  open  spaces.  In  thick  woods,  trees  are  found  to  have  tall,  slendei 
trunks,  with  comparatively  few  branches  except  at  the  top,  smooth  and 
thin  bark,  and  they  are  scantily  provided  with  roots,  but  especially  with 
the  small  fibres  so  essentially  necessary  to  insure  the  growth  of  the  tree 
when  transplanted.  Those,  on  the  other  hand,  which  stand  isolated, 
have  short  thick  stems,  numerous  branches,  thick  bark,  and  great 
abundance  of  root  and  small  fibres.  The  latter,  accustomed  to  the 
full  influence  of  the  weather,  to  cold  winds  as  well  as  open  sunshine, 
have  what  Sir  Henry  Stcuart  has  aptly  denominated  the  "  protecting 
properties,"  well  developed  ;  being  robust  and  hardy,  they  are  well  cal. 
•  Tlieory  of  Horticulture. 


480  APPENDIX. 

culated  to  endure  the  violence  of  the  removal,  while  trees  growing  in 
the  midst  of  a  wood  sheltered  from  the  tempests  by  their  fellows,  and 
scarcely  ever  receiving  the  sun  and  air  freely  except  at  their  topmost 
branches,  are  too  feeble  to  withstand  the  change  of  situation,  when  re- 
moved to  an  open  lawn,  even  when  they  are  carefully  transplanted. 

"  Of  trees  in  open  exposures,"  says  Sir  Henry,  "  we  find  that  their 
peculiar  properties  contribute,  in  a  remarkable  manner,  to  their  health 
and  prosperity.  In  the  first  place,  their  shortness  and  greater  girth  of 
stem,  in  contradistinction  to  others  in  the  interior  of  woods,  are  ob- 
viously intended  to  give  to  the  former  greater  strength  to  resist  the 
winds,  and  a  shorter  lever  to  act  upon  the  roots.  Secondly,  their 
larger  heads,  with  spreading  branches,  in  consequence  of  the  free  ac- 
cess of  light,  are  as  plainly  formed  for  the  nourishment  as  well  as  the 
balancing  of  so  large  a  trunk,  and  also  for  furnishing  a  cover  to  shield 
it  from  the  elements.  Thirdly,  their  superior  thickness  and  induration 
of  bark  is,  in  like  manner,  bestowed  for  the  protection  of  the  sap-ves- 
sels, that  lie  immediately  under  it,  and  which,  without  such  defence 
from  cold,  could  not  perform  their  functions.  Fourthly,  their  greater 
number  and  variety  of  roots  are  for  the  double  purpose  of  nourish- 
ment and  strength ;  nourishment  to  support  a  mass  of  such  magnitude, 
and  strength  to  contend  with  the  fury  of  the  blast.  Such  are  the  ob- 
vious purposes  for  which  the  unvarying  characteristics  of  trees  in  open 
exposures  are  conferred  upon  them.  Nor  are  they  conferred  equally 
and  indiscriminately  upon  all  trees  so  situated.  They  seem,  by  the 
economy  of  nature,  to  be  peculiar  adaptations  to  the  circumstances  and 
wants  of  each  individual,  uniformly  bestowed  in  the  ratio  of  exposure, 
greater  where  that  is  more  conspicuous,  and  uniformly  decreasing,  as  it 
becomes  less."* 

Trees  in  which  the  protecting  properties  are  well  developed  are  fre- 
quently to  be  met  with  on  the  skirts  of  woods ;  but  those  standing  singly 
here  and  there,  through  the  cultivated  fields  and  meadows  of  our  farm 
lands,  where  the  roots  have  extended  themselves  freely  in  the  mellow 
soil,  are  the  finest  subjects  for  removal  into  the  lawn,  park,  or  pleasure 

ground. 

»  The  Planter's  Guide,  p.  105. 


APPENDIX.  181 

The  machine  used  in  removing  trees  of  moderate  size  is  of  simple 
construction,  consisting  of  a  pair  of  strong  wheels  about  five  feet  high, 
a  stout  axle,  and  a  pole  about  twelve  feet  long.  In  transplanting,  the 
wheels  and  axle  are  brought  close  to  the  trunk  of  the  tree,  the  pole  is 
firmly  lashed  to  the  stem,  and  when  the  soil  is  sufficiently  removed  and 
loosened  about  the  roots,  the  pole,  with  the  tree  attached,  is  drawn 
down  to  a  horizontal  position  by  the  aid  of  men  and  a  pair  of  horses. 
When  the  tree  is  thus  drawn  out  of  the  hole,  it  is  well  secured  and 
properly  balanced  upon  the  machine,  the  horses  are  fastened  in  front 
of  the  mass  of  roots  by  gearings  attached  to  the  axle,  and  the  whole 
is  transported  to  the  destined  location. 

In  order  more  effectually  to  insure  the  growth  of  large  specimens 
when  transplanted,  a  mode  of  -preparing  beforehand  a  supply  of  young 
roots,  is  practised  by  skilful  operators.  This  consists  in  removing  the 
top  soil,  partially  undermining  the  tree,  and  shortening  back  many  of 
the  roots ;  and  afterwards  replacing  the  former  soil  by  rich  mould,  or 
soil  well  manured.  This  is  suffered  to  remain  at  least  one  year,  and 
often  three  or  four  years  ;  the  tree,  stimulated  by  the  fresh  supply  of 
food,  throvvs  out  an  abundance  of  small  fibres,  which  render  success, 
when  the  time  for  removal  arrives,  comparatively  certain. 

It  may  be  well  to  remark  here,  that  before  large  trees  are  transplant- 
ed into  their  final  situations,  the  latter  should  be  well  prepared  by 
trenching,  or  digging  the  soil  two  or  three  feet  deep,  intermingling 
throughout  the  whole  a  liberal  portion  of  well  decomposed  manure,  or 
rich  compost.  To  those  who  are  in  the  habit  of  planting  trees  of  any 
size  in  unprepared  grounds,  or  that  merely  prepared  by  digging  one 
spit  deep,  and  turning  in  a  little  surface  manure,  it  is  inconceivable  how 
much  more  rapid  is  the  growth,  and  how  astonishingly  luxuriant  the  ap- 
pearance of  trees  when  removed  into  ground  properly  prepared.  It  is 
not  too  much  to  affirm,  that  young  trees  under  favorable  circumstances 
— in  soil  so  prepared — will  advance  more  rapidly,  and  attain  a  larger 
stature  in  eight  years,  than  those  planted  in  the  ordinary  way,  without 
deepening  the  soil,  will  in  twenty — and  trees  of  larger  size  in  propor- 
tion ;  a  gain  of  growth  surely  worth  the  trifling  expense  incurred  in 
lie  tust  instance.     And  the  same  observation  will  apply  to  all  plant- 

31 


482  APPENDIX. 

ing.     A  little  extra  labor  and  cost  expended  in  preparing  the  soil  will, 
for  a  long  time,  secure  a  surprising  rapidity  of  growth. 

In  the  actual  planting  of  the  tree,  the  chief  point  lies  in  bringing 
every  small  fibre  in  contact  with  the  soil,  so  that  no  hollows  or  inter- 
stices are  left,  which  may  produce  mouldiness  and  decay  of  the  roots. 
To  avoid  this,  the  soil  must  be  pulverized  with  the  spade  before  filling 
in,  and  one  of  the  workmen,  with  his  hands  and  a  flat  dibble  of  wood, 
should  fill  up  all  cavities,  and  lay  out  the  small  roots  before  covering 
them  in  their  natural  position.  When  watering  is  thought  advisable 
(and  we  practise  it  almost  invariably),  it  should  always  be  done  while 
the  planting  is  going  forward.  Poured  in  the  hole  when  the  roots  are 
just  covered  with  the  soil,  it  serves  to  settle  the  loose  earth  compactly 
around  the  various  roots,  and  thus  both  furnishes  a  supply  of  moisture, 
and  brings  the  pulverized  mould  in  proper  contact  for  growtii.  Trees 
well  watered  when  planted  in  this  way,  will  rarely  require  it  after- 
wards ;  and  should  they  do  so,  the  better  way  is  to  remove  two  or 
three  inches  of  the  top  soil,  and  give  the  lower  stratum  a  copious  sup- 
ply; when  tlie  water  having  been  absorbed,  the  surface  should  again 
be  replaced.  There  is  no  practice  more  mischievous  to  newly  moved 
trees,  than  that  of  pouring  water,  during  hot  weather,  upon  the  surface 
of  the  ground  above  the  roots.  Acted  upon  by  the  sun  and  wind,  this 
surface  becomes  baked,  and  but  little  water  reaches  the  roots ;  or  just 
sufBcient,  perhaps,  to  afford  a  momentary  stimulus,  to  be  followed  by 
increased  sensibility  to  the  parching  drought. 

With  respect  to  the  proper  seasons  for  transplanting,  we  may  remark 
that,  except  in  extreme  northern  latitude,  autumn  planting  is  generally 
preferred  for  large,  hardy,  deciduous  trees.  It  may  commence  as  soon 
as  the  leaves  fall,  and  may  be  continued  until  winter.  In  planting  large 
trees  in  spring,  we  should  commence  as  early  as  possible,  to  give  them 
the  benefit  of  the  April  rains;  if  it  should  be  deferred  to  a  later  period, 
the  trees  will  be  likely  to  suffer  greatly  by  the  hot  summer  sun  before 
they  are  well  established. 

The  transplanting  of  evergreens  is  generally  considered  so  much  more 
difficult  than  that  of  deciduous  trees,  and  so  many  persons  who  have 
tolerable  success  in  the  latter,  fail  in  the  former,  that  we  may  perhaps 
be  expected  to  point  out  the  reason  of  these  frequent  failiires. 


APPENDIX.  483 

Most  of  our  horticultural  maxims  are  derived  from  English  authors 
and  among  them,  that  of  always  planting  evergreens  either  in  August 
or  late  in  autumn.  At  both  these  seasons,  it  is  nearly  impossible  to 
succeed  in  the  temperate  portions  of  the  United  States,  from  the  dif- 
ferent character  of  our  climate  at  these  seasons.  The  genial  moisture 
of  the  English  ciimate  renders  transplanting  comparatively  easy  at  all 
seasons,  but  especially  in  winter,  while  in  this  country,  our  Augusts 
are  dry  and  hot,  and  our  winters  generally  dry  and  cold.  If  planted  in 
the  latter  part  of  summer,  evergreens  become  parched  in  their  foliage, 
and  soon  perish.  If  planted  in  autumn  or  early  winter,  the  severe  cold 
that  ensues,  to  which  the  newly  disturbed  plant  is  peculiarly  alive, 
paralyses  vital  action,  and  the  tree  is  so  much  enfeebled  tliat,  when 
spring  arrives,  it  survives  but  a  short  period.  The  only  period,  there- 
fore, that  remains  for  the  successful  removal  of  evergreens  here,  is  the 
spring.  When  planted  as  early  as  practicable  in  the  spring,  so  as  to 
have  the  full  benefit  of  the  abundant  rains  so  beneficial  to  vegetation 
at  that  season,  they  will  almost  immediately  protrude  new  shoots,  and 
regain  their  former  vigor. 

Evergreens  are,  in  their  roots,  much  more  delicate  and  impatient  of 
dryness  than  deciduous  trees ;  and  this  should  be  borne  in  mind  while 
transplanting  them.  For  this  reason,  experienced  planters  always 
choose  a  wet  or  misty  day  for  their  removal ;  and,  in  dry  weather,  we 
would  always  recommend  the  roots  to  be  kept  watered  and  covered 
from  the  air  by  mats  during  transportation.  When  proper  regard  is 
paid  to  this  point,  and  to  judicious  selection  of  the  season,  evergreens 
will  not  be  found  more  ditncult  of  removal  than  other  trees. 

Another  mode  of  transplanting  large  evergreens,  which  is  very  suc- 
cessfully practised  among  us,  is  that  of  removing  them  with  frozen 
balls  of  earth  in  mid-winter.  When  skilfully  performed,  it  is  perhaps 
the  most  complete  of  all  modes,  and  is  so  different  from  the  common 
method,  that  the  objection  we  have  just  made  to  winter  planting  does 
not  apply  to  this  case.  The  trees  to  be  removed  are  selected,  the  situa- 
tions chosen,  and  the  holes  dug,  while  the  ground  is  yet  open  in  autumn. 
When  the  ground  is  somewhat  frozen,  the  operator  proceeds  to  dig  a 
trench  around  the  tree  at  some  distance,  gradually  undermining  it,  and 
.eaving  all  the  principal  mass  of  roots  embodied  in  the  ball  of  earth 


484  APPENDIX. 

The  whole  ball  is  then  left  to  freeze  pretty  thoroughly  (generally  till 
snow  covers  the  ground),  when  a  large  sled  drawn  by  oxen  is  brought 
as  near  as  possible,  the  ball  of  earth  containing  the  tree  rolled  upon  it, 
and  the  whole  is  easily  transported  to  the  hole  previously  prepared, 
where  it  is  placed  in  the  proper  position,  and  as  soon  as  the  weather 
becomes  mild,  the  earth  is  properly  filled  in  around  the  ball.  A  tree, 
either  evergreen  or  deciduous,  may  be  transplanted  in  this  way,  s\-)  as 
scarcely  to  show,  at  the  return  of  growth,  any  ill  effects  from  its 
change  of  location. 


n. 

Description  of  an  English  Suburban  residence,  Cheshcnt  Cottage.  Witli  views  and 
plans  showing  the  arrangement  of  the  house  and  grounds.  And  the  mode  of  managing 
the  whole  premises. 

[The  following  description  of  an  interesting  suburban  residence 
near  London,  with  the  numerous  engravings  illustrating  it,  has  been 
kindly  furnished  us  for  this  work,  by  J.  C.  Loudon,  Esq.  It  was 
originally  published  in  his  "  Gardener's  Magazine,"  and  affords  an  ad- 
mirable illustration  of  this  class  of  residences,  showing  what  may  be 
done,  and  how  much  beauty  and  enjoyment  realized,  on  a  comparative- 
ly limited  space  of  ground.] 

Cheshunt  Cottage,  the  Residence  of  Wm.   Harrison,  Esq., 

F.  L.  S.,  ETC. 

"All  that  can  render  a  country  seat  delightful,  and  a  well  furnished  library  in  the  house." 
{Evelyn's  Memoirs,  hy  Bray,  vol.  i.,  p.  432.) 

The  sides  of  the  road  from  London  to  Cheshunt,  by  Stoke  Newing- 
ton,  Edmonton,  and  Enfield  Wash,  are  thickly  studded  with  suburban 
houses  and  gardens  the  whole  distance;  but,  by  going  straight  on 
through  the  Ball's  Pond  Turnpike,  and  taking  the  country  road  leading 
out  of  Newington  Green,  called  the  Green  Lanes,  between  the  Totten- 
ham and  Edmonton  road,  and  the  Barnct  Road,  and  threading  cur  vay 
through  numerous  interesting  lanes,  we  may  pas.s  through  very  ruiai 
and  umbrageous  scenery,  with  the  appearance  of  but  few  houses  of 
any  kind.     Indeed,  it  may  be  mentioned  as  one  of  the  most  remarktu 


APPENDIX, 


485 


blc  circumstances  in  the  state  of  the  country  in  the  neighborhood  of 
London,  that,  while  all  the  main  roads  are  bordered  by  houses  for  some 
miles  from  town,  so  as  almost  to  resemble  streets;  there  are  tracts 
which  lie  between  the  main  roads,  and  quite  near  town,  v.'hich  have 
undergone  little  or  no  change  in  the  nature  of  their   occupation  for 


[Fig.  1.    Cheshnnt  Cottage,  from  the  Road.] 

several,  and  apparently  many,  generations ;  at  all  events,  not  since  the 
days  of  Queen  Elizabeth.  The  tracts  of  country  to  which  v/e  allude 
are  in  pasture  or  meadow,  with  crooked  irregular  hedges,  numerous 
stiles  and  footpaths,  and  occasional  houses  by  the  roadsides  ;  the  farms 
characterized  by  large  hay  barns.  Scenery  of  this  kind  is  never  seen 
by  the  citizen  who  goes  to  his  country  seat  along  the  public  road,  in 
his  family  carriage,  or  in  a  stage-coach  ;  and  it  is  accordingly  only  known 
to  pedestrians,  and  such  as  are  not  afraid  of  driving  their  horses  over 
rough  roads,  or  meeting  wagons  or  hay-carts  in  narrow  lanes.  The 
road  through  the  Green  Lanes  to  Enfield  is  an  excellent  turnpike  road, 
always  in  a  good  state,  with  occasional  villas  near  Bour  Farm  and 
Palmer's  Green;  and  near  Enfield,  at  Forty  Hill,  there  is  a  handsome 
church,  built  and  endowed  by  Mr.  Myers,  opposite  to  his  park,  which 
is  filled  with  large  and  handsome  trees.  Afterwards  it  passes  the  cele- 
brated park  of  Theobalds,  near  where  formerly  stood  a  royal  palace 


486  APPENDIX. 

the  favorite  residence  of  James  I.,  and  winds  in  tlie  most  agreeacla 
and  picturesque  manner,  under  the  shade  of  overhanging  trees. 
Having  made  several  turns,  it  leads  to  a  lane  with  a  brook  which  iruus 
parallel  to  the  road,  a  foot-bridge  across  which  forms  th";  entrance  tc 
Mr.  Harrison's  cottage,  as  exhibited  in  the  view  Fig.  1. 

The  ground  occupied  by  Mr.  Harrison's  cottage  and  gardens  is 
about  seven  acres,  exclusive  of  two  adjoining  grass  fields.  The 
grounds  lie  entirely  on  one  side  of  the  house,  as  shown  in  the  plan, 
Fig.  13,  in  pp.  510,  511.  The  surface  of  the  whole  is  flat,  and  nothing 
is  seen  in  the  horizon  in  any  direction  but  distant  trees.  The  beauties 
of  the  place,  to  a  stranger  at  his  first  glance,  appear  of  the  quiet  and 
melancholy  kind,  as  shown  in  the  Figs.  2,  3 ;  the  one  looking  to  the 
right  from  the  drawing-room  window  and  the  other  to  the  left :  but, 
upon  a  nearer  examination  by  a  person  conversant  with  the  subjects  of 
botany  and  gardening,  and  knowing  in  what  rural  comfort  consists, 
these  views  will  be  found  to  be  full  of  intense  interest,  and  to  afford 
many  instructive  hints  to  the  possessors  of  suburban  villas  or  cottiiges. 
In  building  the  house  and  laying  out  the  grounds,  Mr.  Harrison  was 
his  own  architect  and  Landscape  Gardener;  not  only  devising  the 
general  design,  but  furnishing  working-drawings  of  all  the  details  of 
the  interior  of  the  cottage.  His  reason  for  fixing  on  the  present  situa- 
tion for  the  house  was,  the  vicinity  (the  grounds  joining)  of  a  house 
and  walk  belonging  to  a  relation  of  his  late  wife.  The  circumstance 
is  mentioned  as  accounting  in  one  so  fond  of  a  garden,  for  fixing  on  a 
spot  which  had  neither  tree  nor  shrub  in  it  when  he  first  inhabited  it. 
Mr.  Harrison  informs  us,  and  we  record  it  for  the  use  of  amateurs 
commencing,  or  extending,  or  improving  gardens,  that  he  commenced 
his  operations  about  thirty  years  ago,  by  purchasing,  at  a  large  nursery 
sale,  large  lots  of  evergreens,  not  six  inches  high,  in  beds  of  one 
hundred  each,  such  as  laurels,  Portugal  laurels,  laurustinuses,  bays, 
hollies,  &c. ;  with  many  lots  of  deciduous  trees,  in  smaller  numbers, 
which  he  planted  in  a  nursery  on  his  own  ground ;  and  at  intervals,  as 
he  from  time  to  time  extended  his  garden,  he  took  out  every  seconl 
plant,  which,  with  occasional  particular  trees  and  shrubs  from  nursery 
grounds,  constituted  a  continual  supply  for  improvement  and  extension 
This,  with  the  hospital  ground   mentioned  hereafter,  furnished  th? 


APPENDIX. 


i87 


488  APPENDIX, 

means  of  extensions  and  improvements  at  no  other  expense  than  labor 
which,  when  completed,  gave  the  place  the  appearance  of  an  old 
garden ;  the  plants  being  larger  than  could  be  obtained,  or,  if  obtained, 
safely  transplanted,  from  nurseries.  This  is  an  important  considera- 
tion, in  addition  to  that  of  economy,  well  worth  the  attention  of 
amateur  improvers  of  grounds  or  gardens. 

By  inspecting  the  plan.  Fig  4,  it  will  be  found  that  the  house  con- 
tains, on  the  ground  floor,  three  good  living  rooms,  and  two  other 
rooms  (?i  and  g)  particularly  appropriate  to  the  residence  of  an  ama- 
teur fond  of  botany  and  gardening ;  and  that  it  is  replete  with  every 
description  of  accommodation  and  convenience  requisite  for  the  enjoy- 
ment of  all  the  comforts  and  luxuries  that  a  man  of  taste  can  desire  for 
himself  or  his  friends. 

In  laying  out  the  grounds,  the  first  object  was  to  insure  agricultural 
•and  gardening  comforts;  and  hence  the  completeness  of  the  farm-yard, 
and  of  the  hot-house  and- frame  departments,  as  exhibited  in  the  plan, 
Fig.  6.  On  the  side  of  the  grounds  opposite  to  the  hot-houses  and 
flower-garden  are  the  kitchen-garden  and  orchard ;  and  though  in  most 
situations  it  would  have  been  more  convenient  to  have  hud  the  farm 
buildings,  and  kitchen  garden,  and  hot-houses  on  the  same  side  as  the 
kitchen  offices,  yet  in  this  case  no  inconvenience  results  from  their 
separation;  because  the  public  road,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  plan.  Fig. 
13,  forms  a  ready  medium  of  communication  between  them,  in  cases  in 
which  the  communication  through  the  ornamented  ground  would  be 
unsightly  or  inconvenient.  In  arranging  the  pleasure-ground,  the 
great  object,  as  in  all  similar  cases,  was  to  introduce  as  much  variety 
as  could  be  conveniently  done  in  a  comparatively  limited  space.  This 
has  been  effected  chiefly  by  distributing  over  the  lawn  a  collection  of 
trees  and  shrubs ;  by  forming  a  small  piece  of  water,  and  disposing  of 
the  earth  excavated  into  hilly  inequalities ;  and  by  walks  leading  to 
different  points  of  view,  indicated  by  different  kinds  of  covered  scats  o- 
garden  structures.  In  conducting  the  walks,  and  distributing  the  trees 
and  shrubs,  considerable  skill  and  taste  have  been  displayed  in  conceal- 
ing the  distant  walks,  and  those  which  cross  the  lawn  in  different 
directions,  from  the  windows  of  the  living-rooms ;  and  also  in  never 
showing  any  walk  but  the  one  which  is  being  walked  on,  to  a  spectator 
making  the  circuit  of  the  PTonndsj 


APPENDIX. 


<80 


'\'??=JCi'v 


490 


APPENDIX. 


APPENDIX.  491 

Before  we  enter  into  further  details,  we  shall  describe,  first,  the  plan 
of  the  house ;  secondly,  that  of  the  farm  and  garden  offices  and  the  hot- 
houses ;  and,  thirdly,  the  general  plan  of  the  grounds. 

The  house,  in  its  external  form  and  interior  arrangement,  is  to  ba 
considered  as  a  cottage,  or  rather  as  a  villa  assuming  a  cottage  charac- 
ter. Hence,  the  centre  part  of  the  house,  over  the  dining  and  d.rawing- 
rooms,  appears  from  the  elevation  of  the  entrance  front  to  be  only  two 
stories  high.  There  is,  however,  a  concealed  story  over  part  of  the 
offices,  for  servants'  bedrooms. 

The  house,  of  whi^h  Fig.  4  is  an  enlarged  plan,  consis*'^  of: 
a,  The  porch,  entered  from  a  bridge  thrown  across  the  brook,  4,  as 

shown  in  Fig.  4. 
6  b,  Passage  from  which  are  seen  the  stairs  to  the  bedrooms ;  and  in 
which,  at  ii,  there  is  a  jib-door  and  a  ventilating  window,  to  prevent 
the  possibility  of  the  smell  from  the  kitchen  or  offices,  or  water- 
closet,  penetrating  to  the  other  parts  of  the  passage. 

c,  Recess  for  coats,  hats,  &c.,  fitted  up  with  a  hat  and  umbrella-stand, 
tables,  &c. 

d.  Drawing-room,  with  a  recess  at  the  further  end,  fitted  up  with  a  sofa 
and  a  writing-table. 

5,  Dining-room,  with  a  recess  for  the  largest  sideboard,  and  another  for 
a  smaller  sideboard  and  cellarets. 

*■,  Library,  chiefly  lighted  from  the  roof,  but  having  one  window  to  the 
garden,  and  a  glass  door  to  the  porch,  h,  also  looking  into  the  garden, 
and  from  which  the  view,  Fig.  5,  is  obtained.  This  room  is  fitted  up 
with  book-cases  all  round;  those  on  each  side  of  the  fire-place  being 
over  large  cabinets,  about  4  ft.  6  in.  high,  filled  with  a  collection  of 
shells,  minerals,  and  organic  remains,  &c.;  and,  to  save  the  space 
that  would  otherwise  be  lost  at  the  angles,  pentagonal  closets  are 
formed  there,  in  which  maps,  and  various  articles  that  cannot  be 
conveniently  put  on  the  regular  book-shelves,  arc  kept.  The  doors 
to  these  corner  closets  are  not  more  than  9  in.  in  width,  and  they  are 
of  panelled  wainscot.  The  shelves  are  fitted  in  front  with  mahogany 
double  reeds,  fixing  the  cloth  which  protects  the  tops  of  the.  bfvjlts, 
thus  giving  the  appearance  of  mahogany. 

g',  Museum  for  specimens  of  minerals  and  other  curiosities,  enter«d 


492 


APPElVDrX. 


[Fig.  5     View  fniin  the  Library  Torch.] 

from  the  porch,  h,  and  lighted  from  that  porch  and  from  a  window  in 
the  roof. 

h,  Porch  leading  to  the  garden  from  the  library  and  museum. 

i,  Ladies'  w-ater-closet  kept  warm  by  the  heat  from  the  back  of  the 
servants'  hall  fire  ;  the  back  of  the  fire-place  being  a  cast  iron  plate. 
a,  Jib-door,     k,  Plate-closet. 

I,  Butler's  pantry,  lighted  from  the  roof. 

m,  China-closet,  lighted  from  the  roof. 

n,  Room  serving  as  a  passage  between  the  dining-room  and  the  garden 
and  also  between  the  dining-room  and  the  water-closet  i,  containing 
a  turning-lathe,  a  carpenter's  work  bench,  a  complete  set  of 
carpenters'  tools,  garden  tools  for  pruning,  &c.,  of  all  sorts ;  spuds 
with  handles,  graduated  with  feet  and  inches,  fishing  tackle,  archery 
articles,  &c. 

0,  Inner  wine-cellar,  where  the  principal  stock  of  wine  is  kept.  There 
is  a  ventilating  opening  from  this  cellar  into  the  passage  b. 

p,  Servants'  hall. 

y,  Outer  wine-cellar,  where  ihe  wine  given  out  weekly  for  use  is  placed^ 
and  entered  in  the  butler's  book.  Between  q  and  the  passage  b,  art 
seen  the  stairs  leading  to  the  servants'  bedrooms,    r,  Beer-cellar. 


APPENDIX.  493 

5,  Kitchen,  lighted  from  the  roof,  and  from  a  window  on  one  side. 

ss,  Scullery,  lighted  from  one  side,  t,  Housekeeper's  closet,  u,  Coal- 
cellar.  I',  Larder.  ?i>,  Bottle  rack,  a:,  Safe  for  cold  meat,  y.  Wash- 
house. 

z,  Knife-house,     cj-,  Filtering  apparatus.     1,  Ash-pit.     2,  Coal-house. 

3,  Fire-place  to  the  vinery  at  10,  in  the  kitchen-garden  9. 

4  4,  Brook.     5  5,  Public  road.     6,  Kitchen-court. 

7,  Concealed  path  to  gentlemen's  water-closet. 

8,  Plantation  of  evergreens.     9,  Kitchen-garden. 
10,  Vinery.     11,  House  servants'  water-closet. 
12,  Servants'  entrance. 

Though  it  cannot  be  said  that  the  arrangement  of  the  offices  of  this 
house  is  so  good  as  it  would  be  if  they  were  placed  on  each  side  of  a 
straight  passage ;  yet  it  will  not  be  denied  that  these  offices  include 
everything  that  is  desirable  for  comfort  and  even  luxury.  The  chief 
difficulty  which  occurs  to  a  stranger,  in  looking  at  the  plan,  is,  to  dis- 
cover how  several  of  the  rooms  which  compose  the  offices  are  lighted ; 
and  this,  it  may  be  necessary  to  state,  is  chiefly  effected  from  the  roof; 
a  mode  which,  in  the  case  of  some  rooms,  such  as  a  butler's  pantry, 
china-closet,  plate-room,  &.c.,  is  to  be  preferred ;  but  which  in  most 
cases  it  is  desirable  to  avoid. 

The  three  windows  to  the  three  principal  rooms  being  on  the  same 
side  of  the  house,  and  adjoining  each  other,  must  necessarily  have  a 
sameness  of  view;  but  the  quiet  character  intended  to  be  produced  by 
the  idea  of  a  cottage  by  a  road  side,  may  be  supposed  to  account  for 
circumstances  of  this  kind,  and  for  various  others. 

The  following  are  the  details  of  the  farmyard,  garden  offices,  and 
hot-houses,  as  exhibited  in  Fig.  6 : — 

1,  Rustic  alcove,  forming  a  recess  under  a  thatched  roof,  which  covers 
the  space  from  the  green-house,  3,  to  the  houses  or  yards,  70, 71,  and 
72.  This  rustic  alcove  has  the  floor  paved  with  small  pebbles,  and 
the  sides  and  ceiling  lined  with  young  fir-wocd,  with  the  bark  on. 
There  is  a  disguised  door  on  the  right,  which  cads  to  69,  a  house 
for  grinding-mills  and  other  machines  ;  and  or,  the  left,  which  leads 
to  2,  the  ship-room.  In  the  upper  part  of  the  central  compartment, 
in  a  square  recess  fronting  the  entrance,  is  a  white  marble  statue  of 


APPENDIX. 


APPENDIX. 


495 


c^^ 


fFig.   ■] 


496  APPENDIX. 

the  Indian  god  Gaudama,  or  Gaudmia.  Three  Elizacethan  beiichea. 
each  as  long  as  one  of  the  sides  of  the  alcove,  are  placed  so  as  to 
disguise  the  doors.  The  external  appearance  of  this  alcove  is 
shown  in  Fig.  7. 

2,  Ship-room,  paved  with  slate,  and  with  the  walls  finished  in  stucco, 
and  ceiling  with  beams  painted  like  oak,  to  which  are  hung  Indian 
spears,  and  other  curiosities,  and  serving  to  contain  models  of  ships 
and  vessels  of  various  sorts  during  winter.  These  are  placed  on 
the  pond  in  the  summer  season ;  square-rigged  vessels  at  fixed 
anchorage,  and  the  fore-and-aft-rigged  ones,  whose  sails  traverse, 
such  as  schooners,  cutters,  and  coasting  vessels,  with  cables  of 
lengths  to  allow  of  their  sailing  without  touching  the  edge  of  the 
pond;  and  these  continue  constantly  traversing  the  pond  when  there 
is  any  wind.  Tliis  room  also  contains  a  variety  of  the  warlike 
instruments  of  the  savages  of  different  countries,  a  bust  of  Lord 
Nelson,  one  of  the  Duke  of  Wellington,  some  pictures  in  mosaic, 
and  a  number  of  East  Indian  curiosities.  It  serves  also  as  a  lobby 
to  the  orangery. 

3,  The  orangery.  The  paths  are  of  slate,  and  the  centre  bed,  or  pit, 
for  the  orange  trees,  is  covered  with  an  open  wooden  grating,  on 
which  are  placed  the  smaller  pots ;  while  the  larger  ones,  and  the 
boxes  and  tubs,  are  let  dovv-n  through  openings  made  in  the  grating, 
as  deep  as  it  may  be  necessary  for  tlie  proper  effect  of  the  heads 
of  the  trees.  This  house,  and  that  for  Orchidaceae,  are  heated  from 
the  boiler  indicated  at  61. 

i,  Orchidaceous  and  fern  house,  in  which  a  is  the  stage  for  Orchida- 
CCEE,  and  b  a  cone  of  rockwork,  chiefly  of  vitrified  bricks,  for  ferns. 
These  ferns,  amounting  to  above  two  dozen  species,  all  sprang  up 
accidentally  from  the  soil  attached  to  some  plants  which  were  sent 
to  Mr.  Harrison  from  Rio  Janeiro  and  other  parts  of  South  America. 
The  shelves  round  the  house  are  also  occupied  with  Orchidaceae,  all 
of  which  are  in  pots,  in  order  that,  when  they  come  into  flower, 
they  may  be  removed  to  the  green-house;  as,  when  thus  treated,  as 
practised  by  the  Duke  of  Devonshire  at  Chatsworth,  they  continue 
tav^h  longer  in  bloom  than  when  kept  in  the  degree  of  heat 
necessary  for  their  growth. 


APPENDIX.  497 

4  c,  Lobby  between  the  orangery  (3)  and  the  conservatory  (5). 

4  (/,  An  aviary  for  canaries,  separated  from  the  conservatory  and  the 
lobby  by  a  wire  grating,  and  from  the  orchidaceous  house  by  a  wall. 
Both  the  aviary  and  the  lobby  have  a  glass  roof  in  the  same  plane 
as  that  of  the  conservatory,  as  may  be  seen  in  Fig.  8,  in  p.  499.  In 
the  winter  season  the  temperature  of  the  aviary  being  tlie  same  as 
that  of  the  conservatory,  the  birds  require  little  or  no  care,  except 
giving  them  food ;  while  they  sing  freely  at  that  season,  and  greatly 
enliven  this  part  of  the  garden  scenery. 

5,  Conservatory,  with  vines  under  the  rafters.  The  walks  are  slate, 
the  shrubs  are  planted  in  a  bed  of  free  soil  edged  with  slate,  and  the 
back  wall  is  covered  with  ditferent  species  of  Passiflora,  and  with 
the  Tacsbnia  pinnatisti'pula. 

6,  Camellia-house.  The  camellias  kept  in  pots ;  the  rafters  covered 
with  vines,  and  the  back  wall  with  passitioras  and  other  climbers. 
This  house,  and  also  5,  are  heated  from  one  boiler,  as  indicated 
at  64. 

7,  Geranium-house.  The  roof  is  in  the  ridge  and  furrov/  manner  of 
Mr.  Paxton.  This  house,  and  also  8,  9,  and  10,  are  lieated  from  the 
boiler  indicated  at  89. 

8,  Botanic  stove.  The  roof  is  in  the  ridge  and  furrow  manner  of 
Paxton.  The  sides  of  the  pit  are  formed  of  slabs  of  slate ;  and 
there  is  a  slate  box  at  e,  containing  a  plant  of  Musa  Cavendishii 
with  a  spike  of  fruit,  two  or  three  of  which  ripen  off  weekly.  F.  is 
a  cistern  for  stove  aquatics.  There  is  a  plant  of  Brngmans/r? 
suavolens  (Datura  arborea  L.)  15  ft.  high,  with  a  head  13  ft.  in 
diameter.  When  we  saw  it,  Aug.  10th,  277  blossoms  were  expanded 
at  once,  producing  an  effect  upon  tlie  spectator  under  the  tree,  when 
looking  up,  which  no  language  can  describe.  Last  year  it  produced 
successions  of  blossoms,  in  one  of  which  600  were  fully  expanded 
at  one  time.  This  year  it  has  had  five  successions  of  blossoms,  and 
another  is  now  coming  out  as  the  plant  expands  in  growth.  There 
is  a  large  Brugmansia  coccinea  in  this  house.  Both  these  plants  are 
in  the  free  soil. 

9,  House  for  Cape  heaths. 

10,  Pinery.     The  roof  of  this  house  is  in  tiie  ridge  and  furrow  manner 

32 


1U8 


Ai'i'tixnix. 


i'l  imitation  of  Mr.  Paxton's  mode  ;  from  vvliicli  it  differs,  in  having 
the  ridge  about  one-third  higher  in  proportion  to  the  breadth,  in 
having  the  sash-bar  deeper,  and  placed  at  right  angles  to  the  crown 
of  the  ridge  and  to  the  furrow,  and  in  having  the  panes  of  twice  the 
size  which  tliey  are  in  Mr.  Paxton's  roof.  This  house  was  built  by 
Mr.  Harrison's  carpenter,  from  the  general  idea  given  to  him;  and 
before  he  had  been  to  Chatswortli  to  examine  the  original  house 
with  this  kind  of  roof,  built  there  by  Mr.  Paxton. 


^ 


I 


"'•'-.,;cr-«\,*J., 


[Fig.  7.    Rustic  Alcove.] 


11,  Cucumber-pit,  on  M'Phail's  plan. 

12,  Succession  pine-pit,  also  on  M'Phail's  plan,  in  order  to  be  heated 
with  dung  linings. 

13,  Melon-pit. 

14,  Dutch  cold-pit,  for  preserving  lettuces,  cauliflowers,  etc.,  during 
winter. 

15,  Tool-house  and  potting-shed ;  the  tools  regularly  hung  on  irons 
tixed  to  the  ceiling,  or  set  against  the  wal',  or  laid  on  shelves, 
the  place  for  each  sort  of  tool  or  implement,  ropes,  etc.,  being 
painted  in  large  white  letters  on  black  boards.  The  following  rulei* 
are  painted  on  a  board  which  is  hung  up  in  the  tool-house  : — 


APPENDIX. 


499 


500  APPENDIX 

■'  Rules  to  be  observed  by  all  persons  working  on  these  Premises,  Master 

and  Man. 

"  I.  For  every  tool  or  implement  of  any  description  not  returned  to 
the  usual  place  at  night,  or  returned  to  a  wrong  place  not  appointed 
for  it,  or  returned  or  hung  up  in  a  dirty  or  unfit  state  for  work,  the 
forfeit  is  3d. 

"  II.  For  every  heap  of  sweepings  or  rakings  left  at  night  uncleared, 
forfeit  3d. 

"  III.  Every  person  making  use  of  bad  language  to  any  person  on 
these  premises  shall  forfeit,  for  each  and  every  such  offence,  6d. 

"IV.  Every  person  found  drunk  on  these  premises  shall  forfeit  one 
shilling ;  and,  if  he  be  in  regular  employment  on  the  premises,  he  shall 
be  suspended  from  his  employment  one  day  for  every  hour  he  loses 
through  drunkenness. 

"V.  Every  person  who  shall  knowingly  conceal  or  screen  any 
person  offending,  shall  be  fined  double  the  amount  of  the  fine  for  the 
offence  he  so  conceals,  in  addition  to  the  fine  of  the  offending  party, 

"VI.  All  forfeits  to  be  paid  to  the  gardener,  on  or  before  the 
Saturday  night  following.  If  any  person  working  regularly  on  the 
premises  fail  to  conform  to  the  above  rules  and  regulations,  the 
gardener  shall  be  at  liberty  to  stop  his  fines  from  his  wages.  Further, 
should  any  foreman  or  journeyman  fail  to  comply  with  the  above  rules 
and  regulations  (with  a  knowledge  of  them),  the  gardener  shall  be  at 
liberty  to  seize  and  sell  his  tools  or  part  of  tliem,  to  pay  such  fines,  in 
one  month  from  the  time  the  offence  was  committed. 

"  VII.  All  fines  to  be  expended  in  a  supper,  yearly,  to  all  the  parties 
who  have  been  fined." 

When  these  rules  were  first  adopted,  the  fines  were  sufTicient  to 
afford  an  annual  supper  with  beer,  &c. ;  but  of  late  tlie  amount  has 
been  so  small,  that  Mr.  Harrison  has  found  it  necessary  to  add  to  it  to 
supply  beer,  &c.,  for  the  supper ;  a  proof  of  tlie  excellent  working  of 
the  rules.  Mr.  Harrison  remarks  that  these  rules  were  established 
about  eleven  years  ago,  and  that  they  have  been  most  effective  in 
preventing  all  slovenly  practices ;  an  advantage  whicli  he  considers  as 
thus  purchased  at  a  very  cheap  rate. 


APPENDIX,  50 

16,  Mushroom-shed,  in  which  the  mushrooms  are  grown  in  Oldai^re'a 
manner. 

17,  Wood-yard,  shaded  by  three  elm  trees. 

18  18,  Calf-pens.         19,  Cow-house.         20,  Tool-house. 

21,  Piggeries. 

22,  23,  24,  places  for  fattening  poultry,  on  Mowbray's  plan,  not,  aa 
usual,  in  coops.  Between  this  and  25,  is  a  privy  for  the  head 
gardener. 

25,  Place  for  meat  for  the  pigs,  which  is  passed  through  a  shoot  to  26. 

26,  Two  tanks  sunk  in  the  ground,  covered  with  hinged  flaps,  the  upper 
edges  of  which  lap  under  the  plate  above,  so  as  to  shoot  off  the  rain, 
for  souring  the  food  intended  for  the  pigs.  One  tank,  which  is 
much  smaller  than  the  other,  is  used  chiefly  for  milk  and  meal  for 
the  fattening  pigs,  and  sov/s  with  pigs;  and  the  other  for  the  wash 
and  other  refuse  from  the  house,  for  the  store  pigs,  which,  with  the 
refuse  from  the  garden,  apple-loft,  &c.,  amply  supplies  tiie  store 
pigs  and  sows,  without  any  purchased  food,  e.\cept  when  they  have 
pigs  sucking.  The  good  effect  of  the  fermentation  or  souring  is 
accounted  for  by  chemists,  who  have  found  thnt  it  ruptures  the 
ultimate  particles  of  the  meal  or  otiier  food  ;  a  subject  treated  in 
detail  in  the  Quarterly  Journal  of  Agriculture,  vol.  vii.  p.  445.  Ac- 
cording to  the  doctrine  there  laid  down,  the  globules  of  meal,  or 
farinaceous  matter  of  the  roots  and  seeds  of  plants,  lie  closely 
compacted  together,  within  membranes  so  exquisitely  thin  and 
transparent  that  their  texture  is  scarcely  to  be  discerned  with  the 
most  powerful  microscope.  Each  farinaceous  particle  is,  therefore, 
considered  as  enveloped  in  a  vesicle,  which  it  is  necessary  to  burst, 
in  order  to  allow  the  soluble  or  nutritious  part  to  escape.  This 
bursting  is  effected  by  boiling,  or  other  modes  of  cookery  ;  and  also 
to  a  certain  extent,  by  the  stomach,  when  too  much  food  is  not 
taken  at  a  time  ;  but  it  is  also  elFected  by  the  heat  and  decomposi- 
tion produced  by  fermentation ;  and  hence,  fermented  food,  like 
food  which  has  been  cooked,  is  more  easily  digested  than  uncooked 
or  unfermented  food.  Plants  are  nourished  by  the  ultimate  particles 
of  manure  in  the  same  way  that  animals  are  nourished  by  the 
ultimate  particles  of  food  ;  and  hence  fermentation  is  as  essential 


502  APPENDIX. 

to  the  dunghill  as  cookery  is  to  food.  The  young  gardener,  ai 
well  as  the  young  farmer,  may  learn  from  this  the  vast  importance 
of  fermentation,  in  preparing  the  food  both  for  plants  and  animals. 

27,  Furnace  and  boiler,  for  boiling  dogs'  meat,  heating  pitch,  &c. 
placed  in  this  distant  and  concealed  spot,  to  prevent  risk  from  firo 
when  pitch  or  tar  is  boiled ;  and,  when  meat  is  boiled  for  dogs,  to 
prevent  the  smell  from  reaching  the  garden.  The  reason  why  it  is 
found  necessary  to  have  a  boiler  for  tar  is,  that,  most  of  the  farm- 
buildings  and  garden-offices  being  of  wood,  it  is  found  conducive  to 
their  preservation  occasionally  to  coat  them  with  tar  heated  to  its 
boiling  point. 

28,  Open  slied  for  lumber. 

29,  Dog-kennel ;  ;;djoining  wiiich  is  a  privy  fur  the  under  gardeners. 

30,  llay-barn.     31,  Lean-to  for  straw. 

32  32,  Places  for  hiaded  hay-carts  to  uiiluad,  or  to  remain  iu  when 
loaded  during  the  i:iglit,  in  order  to  be  ready  to  cart  to  town  or  to 
market  early  in  tiie  morning. 

33,  House  for  lumber,  wood,  &c.     34,  Duck-house. 

35  3.5,  Houses  for  geese  and  turkeys. 

36,  Open  shed  for  carts  and  farm  implements. 

37,  Pond  surrounded  by  rockwork  and  quince  trees. 

38,  House  for  a  spring-cart.     39,  Coal-house  for  Mr.  Pratt. 

40  40,  Places  for  young  chickens.     41,  Yard  to  chicken-houses. 

42,  Hatching-house  for  hens,  containing  bo.xes,  each  1  ft.  square  within, 
with  an  opening  in  front  7  in.  wide  and  7  in.  liigli,  the  top  being 
arched,  so  that  the  sides  of  the  opening  are  only  5  in.  high. 

43,  Lobby  to  Mr.  Pratt's  house.     44,  His  kitchen. 

45,  Living-room. 

46,  Oven  opening  to  47. 

47,  Brewhouse,  bakeliouse,  and  scullery,  containing  a  copper  for  brew- 
ing,  another  for  the  dairy  utensils,  and  a  third  for  washing,  besides 
the  oven  already  mentioned. 

48,  Dairy.  The  milk  dishes  are  of  white  earthenware ;  zinc  having 
been  tried,  but  having  been  found  not  to  throw  up  the  cream  so 
speedily  and  effectively  iis  had  been  promised.  One  zinc  dish,  with 
handles,  is  used  for  clotted   cream,  which   is   regularly  made   diuring 


/.PPfiNDIX,  503 

*he  whole  of  the  fruit  season,  and  occasionally  for  dmner  parties,  for 
preserved  tarts,  &c.  We  observed  here  small  tin  cases  for  sending 
ifrgs  and  butter  to  town.  The  butter,  wrapped  in  leaves,  or  a  butter 
cioth,  is  placed  in  the  bottom  of  a  tin  box  about  a  foot  square, 
so  as  to  fill  the  box  completely ;  and  another  tin  box  is  placed  over 
it,  the  inner  box  resting  on  a  rebate,  to  prevent  its  crushing  the 
butter  below  it.  In  this  latter  box,  the  eggs  are  packed  in  bran, 
after  which  the  cover  of  the  outer  one  is  put  on,  and  the  whole  may 
then  be  sent  to  any  distance  by  coach.  The  dairy  is  supplied  with 
water  from  a  pump  in  the  scullery ;  the  water  being  conveniently 
distributed  in  both  places  by  open  tubes  and  pipes. 

49,  Coachman's  living-room. 

50,  Coachman's  kitchen,  and  stairs  to  two  bedrooms  over. 

51,  Court  for  inclosing  the  coachman's  children. 

52,  Lobby  to  the  dairy.     53,  Lobby  to  Mr.  Pratt's  brew-house. 
54,  Cellar.     55,  Chicken-yard. 

56,  Farmer's  yard. 

57,  A  gravelled  court  separating  the  court-yard,  59,  from  the  stable- 
yard,  56. 

58,  Place  for  slaughtering  in.     59,  Stable-yard. 

60,  Shed  for  compost,  and  various  other  garden  materials;  such  as  a  tub 
for  liquid  manure,  in  which  it  ferments  and  forms  a  scum  on  the  top, 
while  the  liquid  is  drawn  off  below  by  a  faucet  with  a  screw  spigot, 
such  as  is  common  in  Derbyshire  and  other  parts  of  the  north,  which 
admits  the  water  to  come  out  through  the  under  side  of  the  faucet. 
Here  are  also  kept  paint  pots,  oil  cans,  boxes,  baskets,  and  a  variety 
of  other  matters.  The  whole  of  this  shed  is  kept  warm  by  the  heat 
which  escapes  from  the  fire-place  in  61,  and  from  the  back  of  the 
orchidaceous  house,  4. 

61,  Fire-place  and  boiler  for  heating  the  orchidaceous  house. 

62,  Place  for  arranging  garden  pots. 

63,  Shed,  with  roof  of  patent  slates,  which  becomes  a  cheap  mode  of 
roofing  in  consequence  of  requiring  so  few  rafters,  amply  ligiited  from 
the  roof,  and  kept  warm  in  the  winter  time  by  the  heat  proceeding 
from  the  boilers  at  61  and  64.  This  shed  contains  a  potting-bench, 
oistern  of  water,  and  compartments  for  mould ;  and,  being  lofty,  it 


r>04 


APPENDIX. 


contains  in  the  upper  part  Iwo  apartments  indosed  by  wire  wo;.'/  rv; 
curious  foreign  pigeons  or  other  birds.  On  the  ground  ar*;  set, 
during  the  winter  season,  the  large  agaves  and  other  succulent  p'.a:it^ 
wliich  are  then  in  a  dormant  state,  and  which  are  kept  in  the  open 
garden  during  summer.  On  the  whole,  this  is  an  exceedingly  con- 
venient working  shed;  being  central  to  the  houses  3,  4,  5,  and  6; 
])eing  kept  comfortably  warm  by  the  boilers;  being  well  lighted  from 
the  roof;  and  having  the  two  windows  indicated  at  62,  before  which 
is  the  potting-bench. 

64,  Fire-place  to  the  conservatory  and  camellia-house. 

65,  Place  for  keeping  food  for  the  rabbits  and  pigeons,  with  stairs  to 
the  pigeon-house,  which  is  placed  over  it. 


[Fig.  0.     View  from  the  Cliiriese  Temple. 


36,  Rabbit-house  containing  twenty-one  hutches,  each  of  whicn  is  a 
cubic  box  of  20  in.  on  the  side.  Each  box  is  in  two  divisions,  an 
eating-place  and  a  sleeping-place ;  the  sleeping-place  is  8  in.  wide, 
and  is  entered  by  an  opening  in  'he  back  part  of  the  partition.     Both 


APPENDIX.  505 

divisions  have  an  outer  door  in  front;  and,  in  order  that  the  door  of 
the  sleeping-place  may  not  be  opened  by  any  stranger,  it  is  fastened 
by  an  iron  pin,  which  cannot  be  seen  or  touched  till  the  door  of  the 
eating-place  is  opened.  Mr.  Pratt  pointed  this  out  to  us  as  an 
improvement  in  the  construction  of  rabbit-hutches,  well  deserving 
of  imitation  wherever  there  is  any  chance  of  boys  or  idle  persons 
getting  into  the  rabbit-house.  The  rabbits  are  fed  on  garden 
vegetables  and  bran,  barley,  oatmeal,  and  hay,  making  frequent 
changes;  the  vegetables  being  gathered  three  or  four  days  before 
being  used,  and  laid  in  a  heap  to  sweat,  in  order  to  depri\'e  them  of 
a  portion  of  their  moisture.  Salt  is  also  given  occasionally  with  the 
bran.  Cleanliness,  and  frequent  change  of  food,  have  now,  for  five 
years,  kept  the  rabbits  in  constant  health.  It  ought  never  to  be 
forgotten,  that  attention  to  the  above  rules,  in  partially  drying  green 
succulent  vegetables,  is  essential  to  the  thriving  of  rabbits  kept  in 
liutches  ;  and,  hence,  in  London  and  other  large  towns,  instead  of 
fresh  vegetables,  they  are  fed  with  clover  hay.  One  of  the  kinds 
of  rabbit  bred  at  Mr.  Harrison's  is  the  hare  rabbit,  mentioned  in  the 
Encydopccdia  nf  AgricuUure,  ^7355,  the  flesh  of  which  resembles 
that  of  the  hare  in  quantity  and  flavor.  Mr.  Pratt  has  fed  rabbits 
here,  which,  when  killed,  weighed  11  lbs.  We  can  testify  to  their 
excellence  when  cooked. 
€7,  Coach-house,  with  stairs  to  hay-loft.     68,  Stable. 

69,  Mill-house,  containing  mills  for  bruising  cornfor  poultry,  a  portable 
flour  mill,  a  lathe,  and  grinding-machine  for  sharpening  garden 
instruments  and  similar  articles.  In  the  Angel  Inn  in  Oxford,  some 
years  ago,  a  lathe  of  tiiis  sort  was  used  for  cleaning  shoes,  the 
brushes  being  fixed  to  the  circumference  of  the  wheel,  and  the  shoes 
applied  to  them,  while  the  wlieel  was  turned  round  by  a  tread  lever, 
or  treadle. 

70,  Root-house,  containing  binns  for  keeping  different  kinds  of  potatoes, 
carrots,  parsnips,  Jerusalem  artichokes,  beets,  and  yellow,  French, 
and  white  turnips,  with  shelves  for  onions ;  and  a  loft  over,  which  i.n 
used  as  a  fruit  room.  The  fruit  is  kept  partly  on  shelves,  and 
partly  on  cupboard  trays. 

71,  Store  place  for  beer  or  ale,  which  is  brewed  by  Mr.  Pratt  for  the 


500  APPENDIX. 

use  of  the  family  in  London,  as  well  as  Cheshunt;  here  is  also  a 
regular  staircase  to  the  fruit-room. 

72,  Harness-room,  properly  fitted  up  with  every  convenience,  and 
warmed  by  a  stove. 

73,  A  lobby  or  court  to  a  door  which  opens  to  the  brook,  for  the 
purpose  of  clearing  out  an  excavation  made  in  the  bottom  of  the 
channel,  in  order  to  intercept  mud,  and  thus  render  the  water  quite 
clear  where  it  passes  along  the  pleasure-ground,  and  is  seen  from 
the  library  window  and  the  grand  walk  (Fig.  5,  p.  492).  The  whole 
of  any  mud  which  may  collect  in  the  brook  may  be  wheeled  up  a 
plank  through  this  door  without  dirtying  the  walk. 

74  74,  The  brook. 

75,  Foot  entrance  to  Mr.  Pratt's  house,  the  coachman's  house,  the 
dairy,  etc. 

76,  Carriage  entrance  to  the  stable-court,  garden  offices,  farm-yard,  etc. 

77,  Private  entrance  to  the  garden,  over  the  rustic  bridge  shown  in 
Fig.  5. 

78,  Masses  of  vitrified  bricks  and  blocks  of  stone,  distributed  among 
lawn  and  shrubs ;  among  which,  large  plants  of  agave,  and  other 
rock  exotics,  are  placed  in  the  summer  season,  the  pots  and  tubs 
being  concealed  by  covering  them  with  the  stones  forming  the 
masses  of  rock-work.  Here  the  semicircular  space  surrounded  by 
rock  contains  a  collection  of  Himalayan  rhododendrons,  etc.,  in  pots, 
many  of  them  seedlings  which  have  not  yet  flowered. 

79  79,  American  shrubbery,  consisting  chiefly  of  rhododendrons, 
azaleas,  magnolias,  etc.,  growing  in  the  peat  earth  kept  moist  by  the 
brook. 

80,  American  garden  consisting  of  choice  American  shrubs,  and 
American  herbaceous  plants.  In  the  centre  of  the  circle  a  handsome 
tazza  vase  on  a  bold  pedestal. 

81,  Two  semicircles  for  dahlias ;  the  surrounding  compartments 
containing  a  collection  of  roses. 

82,  Garden  of  florist's  flowers. 

83  83,  Garden  of  herbaceous  plants,  chiefly  annuals.  The  walks  in  all 
these  gardens  are  edged  with  slate.  The  bed  SSf  contains  a  colle^^ 
tion  of  choice  standard  roses.     84,  Dahlias. 


APPENDIX. 


507 


85,  Double  ascent  of  the  steps  to  a  mound  formed  of  the  euitl: 
removed  in  excavating  for  the  pond.  From  the  platform  to  which 
these  steps  lead,  there  is  a  circuitous  path  to  the  Cliinese  temple; 
and  the  steps  are  ornamented  with  Chinese  vases,  thus  affording  a 
note  of  preparation  for  the  Chinese  temple.  The  outer  sides  of  the 
steps  are  formed  of  rockwork,  and  between  the  two  stairs  is  a 
pedestal  with  Chinese  ornaments. 

86,  The  Chinese  temple,  on  the  highest  part  uf  the  mount  formed  of 
the  soil  taken  from  t!ie  excavation  now  constituting  the  pond.  Tho 
view  from  the  interior  of  this  temple  is  shown  in  Fig.  9,  p.  504. 

87,  Rustic  steps  descending  from  the  Chinese  temple  to  the  walk 
which  borders  tlie  pond.     88,  The  pond. 

89,  Open  tent,  with  sheet-iron  roof  supported  by  iron  rods.  This 
structure  may  be  seen  in  the  view  Fig.  10. 


IFiiT-  10.     Di<tint  view  oi' th.-  11  hi^k  :va(\  Tent  Krro'^s  the  P.iiiil  ] 


90  90,  Masses  of  evergreens  and  deciduous  trees  and  shrubs. 

91,  Grotto,  made  late  last  year,  not  yet  completed.  It  was  formerly 
an  outer  ice-house,  but  it  failed  as  such.  The  entrance  is  surround- 
ed by  rockwork,  and  the  interior  in  the  form  of  a  horsonhoe, 
furnished  with  a  wooden  bench  as  a  seat.  Over  this  grotto,  is  an 
t.'.mbrella  tent,  as  shown  in  tiie  view  Fig.  11.     92,  Dahlias. 


i>08 


APPENDIX. 


[Fig.  11.     Grotto,  with  Umbrella  Tent  over.J 

93,  Slip  of  ground  for  compost,  and  various  oilier  materials  requisite 
for  the  garden  and  farm-yard ;  communicating  with  the  frame- 
ground  by  the  door  94,  with  the  farm-yard  by  the  gate  95,  and  with 
the  farm  by  the  gate  96. 

94,  Door  from  the  frame-ground  to  the  slip  behind. 
96,  Gate  from  the  slip  to  the  farmyard. 

96,  A  gate  from  the  slip  to  the  fields  of  the  farm. 

97,  Grass  field,  forming  part  of  the  farm. 

Fig.  13,  in  pp.  510,  511,  is  a  vertical  profile  of  the  gardens  and 
pleasure  ground,  with  the  farmyard,  and  a  small  portion  of  the  farm. 
This  view  shows  : — 
1,  The  house.     2,  The  domestic  offices  and  yard.     3,  Vinery  in  a  small 
garden. 

4,  Back  entrance  to  the  domestic  offices,  and  the  smaller  kitchen  gar- 
den. On  one  side  of  this  walk  is  placed  one  of  Fuller's  portable 
ice-boxes. 

5,  The  smaller  kitchen-garden. 

6,  Broad  border  for  pits  ;  and  in  which  there  is  a  cold  pit  for  protecting 
vegetables  during  winter. 

7,  Boundary  plantation. 

8,  Angular  brick  wall,  for  the  sake  of  having  different  aspects  for  th« 


APPENDIX. 


509 


fruit  trees  which  are  trained  against  it ;  and  for  strength,  being  only 
one  brick  in  thickness  for  lessening  the  expense. 

9,  Pond  in  the  largest  kitchen  garden,  supplied  from  the  brook  by  pipes 
with  waste  pipe  to  the  pond  on  the  lawn. 

10,  Filbert  plantation. 

11,  Orchard  and  boundary  plantation. 


[Fig.  12.    Covered  Seat,  of  grotesque  and  rustic  Masonry.] 


12,  Covered  seat,  of  which  a  view  is  shown  in  Fig.  12.  In  front  of  this 
seat  there  is  a  mulberry  tree  of  large  dimensions,  which  was  trans- 
planted by  Mr.  Harrison,  when  it  was  upwards  of  80  years  of  age. 
The  instruments  with  which  a  number  of  large  plants,  particularly 
shrubs,  were  transplanted  under  Mr.  Harrison's  direction,  when  tiie 
grounds  were  being  altered  and  enlarged,  were  described  for  us  by 
Mr.  Pratt.  (See  Gardener's  Magazine,  vol.  xi.  p.  ]  34.)  i\Ir.  Pratt 
kept  for  many  years  large  plants  whicli  had  suffered  from  many 
causes,  or  which  were  not  immediately  wanted,  in  what  lie  cilled  an 
hospital  for  these  purposes. 

13,  A  flower  garden,  in  which  for  several  years  a  large  Araucaria  brasi- 
liensis  stood  out  in  the  centre  bed  ;  but  it  was  killed  to  the  ground 
in  the  winter  of  1837-8. 

14,  The  rustic  covered  seat,  shown  in  Fig  14,  in  p.  513,  and  of  which 
Fig.  15  is  an  elevation  of  the  back,  showing  the  manner  in  which 
the  barked  poles  are  arranged. 


510 


APPi-.ivurx. 


'..(•■ill.  i:*  i 


APPENDIX, 


511 


\t:r.  13.] 


512  APPENDIX. 

15,  Basins  of  water  for  aquatics. 

6,  Rustic  building,  of  which  a  view  is  shown  in  Fig.  16.  In  the  in- 
terior  is  an  alto-relievo  of  statuary  marble,  representing  a  female 
over  a  funeral  vase,  surrounded  by  a  sort  of  broad  frame  of  corals, 
cornua  Ammonis,  and  large  mineral  specimens  of  different  kinds. 

17,  Groups  of  roses,  dahlias,  and  other  ornamental  flowers. 

18,  Two  semicircular  beds  of  roses. 

19,  A  covered  double  seat,  one  half  looking  towards  the  roses  and  the 
other  in  the  opposite  direction.  In  the  latter  are  kept  the  instru- 
ments for  playing  at  what  is  called  lawn  billiards,  which  is  said  to 
be  a  game  intermediate  between  bowls  and  common  billiards.  This 
game  is  little  known,  but  materials  for  playing  at  it  are  sold  by 
Messrs.  Cato  &.  Son,  wire-workers,  Holborn  Hill,  London,  who  sent 
out  with  them  the  following  printed  rules : — 

"  This  game,  which  differs  from  all  others,  should  be  played  on  a 
lawn  about  twelve  yards  square  ;  the  socket  witli  the  ring  being  fixed 
in  the  centre  by  a  block  of  wood  fixed  into  the  earth.  It  may  bo 
played  by  two  or  four  persons,  either  separately,  or  as  partners,  each 
player  having  a  ball  with  a  cue  pointed  to  correspond.  Care  must 
be  taken  to  fix  the  ring  at  the  end  of  the  cue  close  to  the  ball  before 
striking." 

20,  The  pond.  On  tiie  margin  of  which,  at  A-,  is  the  boat-house  seen 
in  Fig.  17,  in  p.  517. 

21,  Descending  steps  through  evergreens,  from  which  is  seen  the  dis- 
tant view  of  the  house  and  the  tent,  as  in  Fig.  10,  in  p.  507. 

22,  Dahlia  plantation. 

23,  Chinese  temple,  from  the  interior  of  which  is  obtained  the  view 
shown  in  Fig.  9,  in  p.  504.  Behind  the  temple,  a  little  to  one  side, 
is  the  grotto  shown  at  91  in  the  plan,  Fig.  G,  in  pp.  494,  495,  and  also 
in  the  view,  Fig.  11,  in  p.  508. 

24,  The  situation  of  the  tent  shown  in  Fig.  10. 

25,  The  different  flower  and  siinib  gardens  described  in  detail  in  the 
plan,  Fig.  6,  pp.  494,  495. 

26,  The  hot-houses,  pits,  frames,  farm  buildings,  &c.,  shown  in  Fig.  6. 

27,  Grass  fields,  forming  part  of  the  farm. 

28,  Point  from  wliich  the  view  of  tiie  hot-houses,  Fig.  8,  in   p.  499,  i« 


APPENDIX. 


513 


tfiVen,  and  also,  turning  round,  the  view  of  the  house,  Y\r.  is,  in  p 

'29,  Secret  entrance  to  the  grounds.     30,  Principal   entrance   to  th« 

house. 
HI,  Entrance  to  the  stable-court  and  farmyard. 


[Fig.  14.    Rustic  Covered  Seat,  of  Woodwork.] 

Remarks. — In  pointing  out  the  principal  sources  of  the  profession;!) 
instruction  which  a  j'oung  gardener  may  derive  from  examining  thi.s 


[I'i;.'.  1.1.     Kli'vnti.iii  nfliie    i 'ik 

33 


riI4 


■^prK.vjtix, 


place,  wc  shrill  firRt  direct  ;ittenlion  to  the  jrunltn  stfuclures.  Vncse, 
whether  of  the  ornamental  or  useful  kind,  are  executed  substar'l-''ly 
iind  with  great  care  and  neatness  ;  while  the  farm  buildings,  'bc'ng 
chiefly  of  wood,  show  how  great  an  extent  of  accommodation  mav  he: 
obtained  witiiout  regularity  of  plan,  and  without  incurring  much  ex- 
pense. A  good  exercise  for  the  young  designer  would  be  to  distribute 
the  same  accommodation,  properly  classed,  along  the  sides  of  a   square 


[Fig.  10.    Hermit's  Seat,  and  Classical  Vase.] 


or  squares,  or  along  the  sides  of  :i  parallelogram  or  polygon,  and  elthei 
ietached  from  or  connected  with  the  horticultural  building.s. 

The  manner  in  which  the  working-sheds  are  heated  bv  the  v  aste 
heat  from  the  furnaces,  in  consequence  of  wliich,  in  s->vere  weather, 
much  more  work  will  be  done  in  them,  and  in  a  better  manner,  and  in 
which  they  are  lighted,  so  as  to  serve  for  protecting,  certain  kinds  of 
plants  during  winter,  is  worthy  of  imitation  ;  as  is  the  mode  of  heating 
so  many  different  houses  from  only  three  boilers.  In  no  garden 
Rtructures  have  we  seen   a  more  judicious   use  of  the  Penrhyn  slate 


APPENDIX.  515 

paths,  edgings,  shelves,  cisterns,  boxes  for  plants,  copings,  kerbs, 
partitions,  and  substitutes  for  dwarf  walls,  being  all  made  of  it.  The 
order  and  neatness  with  which  all  the  different  tools,  utensils,  &c.,  are 
kept  in  the  horticultural  and  farm  buildings,  are  most  exemplary,  and 
greatly  fiicilitate  the  despatch  of  business. 

In  the  fiirm  buildings,  the  fittings  up  of  the  poultry-houses,  the 
rabbit-house,  and  the  dairy  and  scullery,  well  deserve  attention ;  and 
also  tho  arrangement  for  fermenting  the  food  of  the  pigs  in  under- 
ground cisterns,  not  too  warm  for  summer,  nor  so  cold  as  to  cheek 
fermentation  in  winter.  The  manure  of  the  horses,  of  the  cow-s,  of 
the  pigs,  of  the  rabbits,  of  the  pigeons,  and  of  the  poultry,  is  kept  in 
separate  pits,  that  it  may  be  used,  if  desirable,  in  making  up  ditferent 
composts. 

There  are  three  liquid-manure  tanks,  in  which  the  liquid  matter 
which  in  most  f;irmyards  is  wasted,  is  fermented,  and  afterwards  mixed 
up  with  soil  for  use  in  the  kitchen-garden,  or  used  in  forming  composts 
for  particular  plants.  The  liquid-manure  from  tlie  stables  is  kept 
apart  from  that  from  the  cow-house  ;  and  the  general  drainings  of  the 
yard,  and  of  the  frame-ground  in  the  kitciien-garden,  are  fermented  by 
themselves.  The  liquid  manure  with  which  Mr.  Pratt  waters  his  plants 
is  formed  chiefly  of  the  sweepings  of  the  pigeon,  rabbit,  and  cow 
houses,  with  lime ;  and  is  kept  in  a  cask  in  a  close  shed  (60  in  the 
p.H.n  Fij.  6,  in  p.  494,  495),  so  that  the  temperature  admits  of  its 
ferciBnting  in  winter,  as  well  as  in  summer :  a  thick  scum  rises  to  the 
Icp  o'"  t'  ^  cask,  and  the  liquid  is  drawn  out  from  the  bottom  as  clear 
as  o.d  a  s.  Tho  plants  which  Mr.  Pratt  waters  with  this  liquid  are 
chiefly  those  of  rapid  growth,  such  as  the  Datura,  Brugman.sia,  and 
other  soft-wooded  tree  plants,  which,  like  these,  are  cut  in  every  yeai 
and  appear  to  profit  by  the  stimulating  effect  of  this  manure.  He 
f  l.  es  it  also,  occasionally,  to  various  other  plants  which  appear  to  want 
v;^jr  ;  but  has  not  yet  had  sufficient  experience  of  its  effects,  to  give 
a  list  of  plants  to  whicli  it  ought  to  be  applied. 

la  order  to  produce  as  much  manure  as  possible,  as  well  for  the 
fBTE^.  ">&  fur  the  garden,  all  leaves,  haulm,  and  waste  vegetable  matters, 
are  CE^'efally  collected,  and  fermented  by  the  addition  of  fresh  stable 
dUDg;  wiid  h>  aps  of  different  kinds  of  soils,  procured  from  different 


516  APPENDIX. 

parts  of  the  country,  are  constantly  kept  in  the  slip  adjoining  the 
frame-ground,  ready  for  use. 

The  grounds  being  nearly  level  are  readily  supplied  with  water  from 
the  ponds  and  from  the  brook ;  and  there  are  concealed  wells,  com. 
municating  with  these  sources  by  pipes  from  the  brook,  in  different 
parts  of  the  grounds,  and  more  especially  in  the  kitchen-garden,  from 
which  the  plants  can  be  abundantly  watered  in  the  growing  season 
with  comparatively  little  labor ;  there  being  six  different  places, 
ir.,V".dirg  the  ponds  and  brook,  from  which  the  gardeners  take  water, 
rid  all  the  strawberries  are  planted  close  to  the  wells  in  the  inner  and 
outor  v/alled  gardens. 

The  kitchen-gardens,  the  hot-houses,  and  the  store-houses  and 
some  other  structures,  can  be  locked  up  at  pleasure,  Mr.  Harrison  and 
Mr.  Pratt  being  the  only  persons  having  complete  master  keys.  Part 
of  the  outer  kitchen-garden  is  inclosed  with  an  open  iron  spike  fence, 
5  ft.  6  in.  higli,  within  which  and  the  inner  walled  garden  are  the 
strawberries  and  choicest  gooseberries,  tigs,  etc.,  and  these  inclosures 
are  opened  only  by  the  master  keys.  The  whole,  therefore,  of  the 
wall  and  best  fruit  is  secured  fro3i  plunder. 

The  beauties  of  this  place,  as  has  been  already  mentioned,  depend 
chiefly  on  the  taste  and  judgment  displayed  in  laying  out  the  walks, 
and  distributing  the  trees  and  shrubs ;  though  the  choice  of  a  situation 
for  the  pond,  and  the  mount  adjoining  it,  is  also  a  matter  of  some 
consequence. 

The  trees  and  shrubs,  being  comparatively  limited  in  number, 
consist  of  one  of  almost  every  kind  that  is  to  be  procured  in  British 
nurseries,  exclusive  of  those  which  are  common,  or  not  considered 
ornamental.  In  selecting  these,  the  more  rare  kinds  have  been 
procured,  and  planted  quite  young;  Mr.  Harrison  and  Mr.  Pr-U 
having  found,  by  experience,  that  the  pines  and  firs  should  be  plar.l'.''. 
out  when  not  more  than  of  three  or  four  years'  growth.  When  uie 
plants  have  been  in  pots,  the  balls  should  be  gently  broken  witli  the 
hand,  and  afterwards  all  the  earth  washed  away  from  the  roots  I  y  the 
application  of  water.  The  plant  may  then  be  placed  on  a  hill  of 
prepared  mould,  and  the  roots  stretched  out,  so  as  to  radiate  from  tho 
plant  in  every  direction,  and  afterwards  covered  with  mould. 


APPENDIX. 


517 


[Fig.  17.     Boat  House  and  Agave  Mount. J 


The  masses  of  trees  and  shrubs  are  chief!}'  on  the  mount  near  the 
lake,  and  along  the  margin  which  shuts  out  the  kitchen-garden ;  and 
in  these  places  they  are  planted  in  the  gardenesque  manner,  so  as  to 
produce  irregular  groups  of  trees,  with  masses  of  evergreen  and 
deciduous  shrubs  as  undergrowth,  intersected  by  glades  of  turf.  They 
are  scattered  over  the  general  surfiice  of  the  lawn,  so  as  to  produce  a 
continually  varying  effect,  as  viewed  from  the  walks ;  and  so  as  to 
disguise  the  boundary-,  and  prevent  the  eye  from  seeing  from  one 
extremity  of  the  grounds  to  the  other,  and  thus  ascertain  their  extent. 
The  only  points  at  which  the  lawn  is  seen  directly  across  from  the 
drawing-room  window  are  in  the  direction  of  I  and  m.  Fig.  13,  in  pp. 
510,  511  ;  but,  through  these  opening.s,  the  grass  fieUl  beyond  appears 
united  witii  the  lawn  ;  so  that  the  extent  thus  given  to  the  views  from 
the  drawing-room  windows  is  of  the  greatest  assistance  to  the 
character  of  the  place,  with  reference  to  extent.  From  every  other 
part  of  the  grounds,  the  views  across  the  lawn  are  interrupted 
by  some  tree,  bush,  or  object  which  conceals  the  boundary  ;  or,  if  the 
boundary  is  seen  on  one  side,  as  in  passing  along  the  walk  from  16  by 
18  lo  22,  there  is  ample  space  on  the  lawn  side  to  keep  up  the  idea 
of  extent. 


518  APPENDIX. 

In  m;iny  situalions,  tliis  walk,  as  seen  on  paper,  would  be  considered 
to  be  too  near  the  boundary ;  but  in  the  grounds  the  narrow  plantation 
from  22  to  18  is  of  evergreens,  chiefly  hollies,  which  already  partially 
shut  out  all  view  of  the  boundary  or  the  field,  and  which  are  ultimate- 
ly intended  to  spread  their  upper  branches  over  the  walk,  so  as  to  give 
it  a  character  of  shade  and  gloom,  dilferent  from  any  other  in  these 
grounds. 

In  general,  it  may  be  laid  down  as  .a  rule,  that  the  boundary  between 
a  lawn  and  the  park  or  field  beyond  should  not  be  such  as  to  cut  the 
landscape,  as  it  were,  in  two ;  and  another  rule  is,  that  the  walks 
should  never  be  so  near  this  fence,  or  should  not  be  so  conducted 
when  near  it,  as  to  admit  of  tiie  spectator  looking  directly  across. 
Indeed,  in  scenery,  no  rule  is  generally  more  applicable  than  this,  viz. 
that  all  straiglit  lines,  whether  fences,  roads,  canals,  or  rivers,  and  all 
regular  symmetrical  objects,  such  as  buildings,  should  be  looked  at 
obliquely.  Applying  this  rule,  therefore,  to  the  scenery  between  the 
walk  and  the  fence,  from  18  to  16,  we  should  say  that  either  the 
direction  of  the  walk  ought  to  be  altered,  so  as  to  remove  it  further 
from  the  boundary,  or  the  boundary  extended  further  into  the  field  ; 
and  instead  of  being  bordered  by  a  hedge-like  fringe  of  shrubs,  it 
should  only  be  broken  here  and  there  by  occasional  bushes  and  trees, 
connected  and  harmonizing  in  position  with  other  trees  beyo;id  the 
fence.  If  it  were  desirable  to  avoid  altering  the  boundary,  then  wc 
should  recommend  continuing  the  walk  wjiich  commences  at  d  near 
19,  by  n  and  o  n,  to  p  near  16.  If  there  were  nothing  to  see  or  be 
seen  beyond  the  boundary,  then,  unless  the  boundary  fence  were  a 
conservative  wall,  that  is,  a  wall  covered  with  half-hardy  ornamental 
plants,  we  should  still  prefer  changing  the  direction  of  the  walk,  so  as 
to  take  away  from  the  monotonous  appearance  of  continually  sk';xir.v 
the  boundary.  In  every  place,  however  small,  there  ought  to  be  so/ijn 
part  left  which  the  visitor  has  not  seen,  and  which  may  leave  th«- 
impression  on  his  mind,  that,  however  much  he  has  been  shown,  he 
has  not  seen  everything.  We  make  these  observations  with  great 
deference  to  Mr.  Harrison,  who  has  paid  much  attention  to  the  subject 
of  Landscape  Gardening,  and  shown  much  practical  taste  (»nd  ijood 
Bense  both  in  that  art  and  in  architecture. 


APPENDIX. 


519 


It  is,  however,  right  to  state  that  Mr.  Harrison  accords  with  oui 
general  view  of  the  subject,  but  "  defends  the  walk  in  question  as  an 
exception  founded  on  his  objects  in  making  it ;  which  were,  1st,  to  have 
a  walk  ditferent  from  any  other  in  the  garden;  and  2d,  a  walk  shelter- 
tered  from  the  winter  southerly  gales,  and  ornamented  by  the  bloom  of 
the  laurustinus  at  that  season.  It  is,  therefore,  so  slightly  curved  as 
merely  to  avoid  a  straight  line,  and  permits  an  e.xtent  of  length,  not 
found  in  any  other  part,  to  be  seen  on  descending  the  elevation  at  the 
east  end,  or  on  emerging  from  wood  at  the  west  end,  where,  when  the 
improvements  connected  with  it  are  finished,  it  will  enter  a  dense  plan- 
tation, the  walk  going  round  at  the  back  of  the  building  in  that  corner. 
The  fence  would  have  been  entirely  excluded  from  either  near  or  dis- 
tant view,  and  the  eye  carried  so  as  not  to  catch  a  view  of  the  grounds 
of  the  tield  nearer  than  one  hundred  yards  or  more  at  the  least,  if  the 
laurustinuses  had  not  suffered  so  severely  in  1837-38;  but  these  will 
by  next  year,  and  by  trees  already  pknted  along  the  border,  and  others 
to  be  planted  irregularly,  at  intervals,  in  the  field  near  the  fence  in  a 


FFig.  18.    (Jarden  Front  of  Cheshunt  Cottage.] 

great  measure,  Mr.  Harrison  thinks,  obviate  the  objection  made,  or 
least  I'issen  the  force  of  it,   as  future    appearances  will,  hn  thin;- 
prove.— VV.  H." 


520  APPENDIX. 

The  trees  and  shrubs  on  the  lawn  are  almost  all  disposed  in  Uie  gar 
denesque  manner:  that  is,  so  that  eacli  individual  plant  may  assume  its 
natural  shape  and  habit  of  growth.  The  masses  are  also  chiefly  plant- 
ed in  the  same  style  ;  and,  as  the  trees  and  shrubs  advance  in  growth, 
tiiey  are  cut  in,  or  thinned  out,  so  that  ench  individual,  if  separated 
from  the  mass  to  which  it  belongs,  and  considered  by  itself  alone,  shall 
be  a  handsome  plant.  At  the  same  time,  in  order  to  produce  as  much 
variety  as  possible,  the  picturesque  style  of  planting,  in  wiiich  trees 
and  shrubs  are  so  closely  grouped  together  as  partially  to  injure  each 
other's  growth,  occasionally  occurs,  for  the  sake  of  producing  variety. 
With  the  exception  of  the  pines  and  firs,  the  other  trees  have  been 
selected  more  for  their  picturesque  effect  and  variety  of  foliage,  than 
for  their  botanical  interest.  Among  these  are  the  Scotch  pine  for  its 
darkness ;  the  P  pulus  angulata  for  its  large  leaves,  and  for  its  proper- 
ty of  preserving  these  till  destroyed  by  severe  frost,  long  before  which 
all  the  other  poplars  have  become  naked;  the  A'cer  macrophyllum,  for 
its  large  leaves ;  the  Montpelier  maple,  for  its  small  ones ;  the  Negundo 
fraxinifolium,  for  its  green-barked  shoots ;  the  American  oaks,  for  the 
singular  variety  in  form  and  color  of  their  foliage ;  the  catalpa,  for  its 
broad  rich  yellowish  leaves,  and  its  showy  blossoms,  which  appear  late 
in  the  season;  the  deciduous  cypress;  the  bonduc,  or  Kentucky  coffee 
tree ;  the  cut-leaved  alder,  the  tulip  tree,  the  purple  beech,  the  purple 
hazel,  the  Oriental  plane,  of  which  there  are  several  fine  specimens,  the 
variegated  sycamore,  and  other  variegated  trees  and  shrubs,  which  are 
always  so  beautiful  in  spring;  those  thorns  and  crabs  which  are  beau- 
tiful or  remarkable  for  their  blossoms  in  the  spring,  and  for  their  fruit 
in  autumn  ;  the  Nepal  sorbus,  so  interesting  for  its  large  woolly 
leaves,  which  die  off  of  a  fine  straw  color;  the  magnolias;  the  rhodo- 
dendrons, the  heaths,  the  brooms,  and  the  double-blossomed  furze,  be- 
sides various  striking  or  popular  plants,  such  as  the  variegated  hollies 
the  scarlet  arbutus,  etc.  Among  the  detached  trees  and  small  groups, 
there  is  scarcely  to  be  met  with  a  single  bush  or  tree  tliat  a  general 
observer  will  not  find  noticeable  for  something  in  its  foliage,  general 
form,  flowers,  or  fruit.  The  Magnolia  grandiflora  v;!r.  exonic'-nsii 
,%wers  freely  as  a  standard  without  any  protection,  and  v.-as  not  even 
injured  by  the  winter  of  1837-8;  nor  was  A'rbutus  proctra,  also  uo« 


APPENDIX.  521 

pioU-cted.  A  number  of  the  more  rare  trees  and  slirubs,  siu-h  as 
Arauca.'ia  'irasiliensis,  which  had  stood  out  eight  years,  A  Cunning- 
hainfj,  Pinus  inslgnis,  P.  palustris,  P.  GirardJa?ia,  P.  canadensis,  etc., 
.vere  killed  during  the  winter  of  1837-8,  and  a  number  of  others, 
which  were  severely  injured,  are  now  recovering.  Mr.  Pratt,  the  head 
gaidener,  did  not  begin  to  prune  the  trees  which  were  injured  till  the 
rising  of  the  sap  showed  the  extent  of  the  injury  that  they  had  re- 
ceived. After  waiting  till  the  middle  uf  summer,  it  was  found  that  the 
laurustinus,  sweet  bay,  Chinese  privet,  and  various  other  shrubs,  were 
alive  to  the  height  of  from  3  ft.  to  5  ft.,  and  after  the  dead  wood  was 
cut  out,  the  plants  soon  became  covered  with  young  shoots  and 
foliage. 

The  Walks  are  so  laid  out  and  planted  as  to  be  sheltered  or  border- 
ed by  evergreens,  for  the  sake  of  their  lively  appearance  during  winter. 
They  are  also  so  contrived  as  to  be  shaded  from  the  sun  by  deciduous 
trees  during  summer ;  while  these  trees  being  naked  during  winter,  ad- 
mit the  sun  at  that  season  to  dry  the  grounds.  The  walks  are  laid  out 
in  different  directions,  in  order  that,  from  whatever  point  the  wind  may 
blow,  at  least  one  walk  will  be  sheltered  from  it.  The  greater  num- 
ber are  in  the  direction  of  north  and  south,  because  walks  in  that  di- 
rection are  best  exposed  to  the  sun  in  the  winter  season,  which  is  the 
period  of  the  year  in  which  the  proprietor  chiefly  resides  here.  It  is 
always  desirable,  in  a  small  place,  that  all  tlie  walks  should  be  conceal- 
ed from  the  windows,  except  that  immediately  under  the  eye,  and  that, 
in  walking  through  the  grounds,  no  path  should  be  seen  except  the  one 
walked  on,  and  that  (except  in  the  case  of  a  straight  avenue)  only  for 
a  moderate  distance.  These  rules  (derived  from  the  principle  of  va- 
riety and  intricacy)  have  been  carefully  attended  to  by  M;.  Harrison, 
and  hence  the  walk  from  a  to  b,  in  the  plan,  Fig.  13,  in  pp.  510,  ill,  is 
concealed  by  raising  the  turf  on  the  side  next  the  house  uighor  ti.an  on 
the  opposite  side,  while  that  from  c  to  d  is  concealed  by  tho  bushes  and 
trees  at  c,  and  more  especially  by  a  large  rhododendron  rt  .;<?.  The 
walk  fg  h  is  concealed  from  the  walk  i,  partly  by  a  swell  ia  'Jio  surface 
of  the  turf  on  the  side  next  i,  but  chiefly  by  the  busheo  which  are 
scattered  along  its  margin.  At  g,  there  is  a  clump  which  prevents  any 
one  on  the  walk  i  from  seeing  the  line  g  f,  and  any  one  on  the  walk  g 


522 


APPENDIX. 


/"from  seeing  the  line  i.  In  walking  along  from/ to  h,  it  is  clear  that 
the  trees  and  shrubs  on  the  left  hand  will  always  prevent  the  eye  from 
seeing  the  walk  to  any  great  distance.  All  the  other  walks  through 
the  lawn  are  concealed  in  a  similar  manner,  so  that  a  person  walking 
in  the  grounds  never  sees  any  other  walk  than  that  which  lies  imme- 
diately before  him,  and,  therefore,  in  looking  across  the  lawn,  he  never 
can  discover  the  extent  either  of  what  he  has  seen,  or  of  what  he  has 
yet  to  see.  To  form  a  great  number  of  walks  of  this  sort,  and  lead 
the  rpectator  over  them  without  showing  him  more  than  one  walk  at  a 
time,  but  taking  care,  at  the  same  time,  to  let  him  have  frequent  and 
extensive  views  across  the  lawn,  and  these  views  always  different, 
conf'titute  the  grand  secret  of  making  a  small  place  look  large. 

l\e  walks  are  filled  to  the  brim  with  gravel,  kept  firmly  rolled,  and 
theij- grass  margins  are  dipt,  but  never  cut,  because  the  gravel,  being 
a'n  »st  as  hio-h  as  the  turf,  the  latter  can  never  sink  down,  and  swel. 


[Fig.  19.    View  across  the  Water,  looking  towards  the  Ilouse.l 


APPENDIX.  52iJ 

!>rit  over  the  former.  This  it  invariably  does  when  the  turf  is  a  few 
i;A.h?s  higher  than  the  gravel,  and,  hence,  paring  off  the  part  of  the 
; .  ri  v'hich  had  projected  was  originally,  no  doubt,  adopted  only  as  a 
reoiedy  for  the  evil,  though  it  is  now  erroneously  practised  by  gar- 
darn  rs  as  an  evidence  of  care  and  good  keeping.  As  much  of  the 
lea-  ty  of  the  walk  depends  upon  the  beauty  of  its  boundary,  the 
tooliop-  that  this  boundary  is  likely  to  be  disturbed  every  time  the  walk 
.s  r  .faned,  or  the  adjoining  turf  mown,  is  extremely  disagreeable. 
'T'Ve  *-eshly  pared  turf  becomes  a  spot  or  scar  in  the  scene,  withdraw- 
I  g  the  attention  from  the  walk  itself,  and  from  the  adjoining  grounds, 
10  a  point,  or  rather  a  line,  which  is  in  itself  of  little  consequence,  but 
which,  by  the  paring,  is  obtruded  on  the  eye,  so  as  to  destroy  ail 
allusion  to  stability.  We  are  displeased  with  the  paring  of  the  edges, 
because  it  conveys  the  idea  that  the  walks  are  not  finished,  or  that  they 
are  liable  to  be  disturbed  in  this  way  from  time  to  time,  and  nothing, 
either  in  grounds  or  in  buildings,  is  more  unsatisfactory  than  an 
apparent  want  of  stability  or  fixedness.  It  is  as  much  the  nature  of 
the  ground  to  be  fixed  and  immovable,  as  it  is  of  trees  and  shrubs  to 
increase  in  growth,  and  hence,  any  operation,  such  as  clipping,  which 
seems  to  stop  the  growth  of  the  one,  is  as  unsatisfactory  to  the  eye  as 
paring,  which  seems  to  derange  the  fixed  state  of  the  other.  Would 
that  we  could  impress  this  on  the  minds  of  all  gardeners  and  tlieir 
employers ! 

The  Pond  is  of  an  irregular  shape,  so  arranged  as  with  the  assist- 
ance of  the  island  to  prevent  the  whole  of  it,  and  consequently  its 
limited  extent,  from  being  seen  from  any  one  point  in  the  garden.  For 
the  same  reason,  the  v.-alk  only  goes  along  one  side,  there  being  but 
one  point  on  u.ie  western  ^lide,  viz.  where  the  iion  seats  are  close  to 
th3  a^raves,  from  which  any  j.v.t  cf  the  pond  can  be  seen.  The  pond 
is  so  situated  as  to  forir.  t'^3  isiir.  fcutin,  in  the  right  hand  view  from 
the  -^rawing-roDm  wic.dcw,  a.^  >.h;  J/n  m  Fig.  3,  in  p.  487;  the  wooded 
island  (v/hich  is  shown  rather  t(..  tauch  in  the  middle  in  the  plan, 
tlirugh,  perbf.f£,  not  pc  in  reality)  disguising  the  boundary  from  that 
?.nd  every  o'i-.er  point  of  view.  The  bank  of  the  pond  on  one  side  is 
rocky,  and  nearly  perpendicular,  while  on  the  other  it  is  sloping,  and 
Dartly  covered  with  shrubs.     At  /;,  in  Fig.  13  in  p.  511,  there  is  a  boat 


524  APPENDIX, 

liouse,  on  the  top  of  which  are  several  hirge  agaves,  the  common,  the 
variegated,  and  Agave  plicatilis ;  the  tubs  containing  which  are  so  dis- 
guised by  rockwork,  as  to  create  an  allusion  to  the  appearance  of  these 
plants  in  their  native  habitats.  The  appearance  of  these  agaves,  and 
also  of  a  large  crassula,  is  indicated  in  a  view  of  the  boat  house,  Fig. 
17,  in  p.  517,  and  it  is  only  from  a  seat  among  these  agaves  that  any 
part  of  the  pond  can  be  seen  from  this  side  of  it.  Had  a  walk  been 
conducted  completely  round  the  pond,  and  near  its  margin,  the  charm 
of  partial  concealment  would  have  been  entirely  lost.  The  high  banks 
have  been  formed  with  earth  taken  out  of  the  pond,  and  these  have 
given  occasion  to  a  considerable  variety  in  the  inclination,  as  well  as  in 
the  direction,  of  the  walks.  The  banks  are  planted  on  tlie  same 
principle  as  the  open  lawn,  that  is,  with  trees  and  shrubs  having 
striking  foliage  or  showy  flowers,  and  with  a  judicious  mi.\ture  of 
evergreens  to  give  the  effect  of  cheerfulness  in  winter.  In  the  water  are 
two  large  plants  of  Calla  tethiopica,  hin.,  which  cover  a  space  of  nearly 
5  ft.  in  diameter ;  they  have  lived  there  through  ten  winters  without 
any  protection,  the  water  being  5  ft.  deep,  and  they  flower  luxuriantly 
every  year.  The  views  across  the  water,  to  the  house  and  to  the 
other  parts  of  the  grounds,  are  singularly  varied,  owing  to  the  winding 
direction  of  the  walk,  and  the  consequently  changing  position  of  the 
island,  and  of  the  trees  in  the  foreground  and  middle  distance.  One 
of  these  views  may  be  seen  in  Fig.  19,  and  others  have  been  already 
given  in  pp.  487,  504,  507,  517. 

The  Flower-Garden  (25,  in  Fig.  13,  in  pp.510,  511),  is  laid  out,  as  the 
ground  plan  indicates,  in  beds,  eve.r''heie  l.o:derea  with  slate;  a 
flower-garden  of  this  kind,  with  the  walks  gr:.veIlo'.',  ha\:rg  the  advan- 
tage of  rendering  the  flowers  accessible  to  indies  ia-mei;uU:ly  after 
rain,  when  they  are  often  in  their  greaiest  beauty,  and,  at  -Jl  events,  in 
their  greatest  freshness  and  vigor,  an  advantago  whi2h  is  not  obtained 
when  the  beds  are  on  turf.  There  are  also  flowci-beds  on  tuif  '.n 
other  parts  of  the  grounds,  but  these  are  filled  with  roac-s,  dahlias,  and 
other  large-growing  plants  in  masses,  the  beauties  "f  which  do  not 
require  to  be  closely  examined. 


APPENDIX.  525 

ni. 

Note  on  the  treatment  of  Lawns 

As  a  lawn  is  the  ground-work  of  a  landscape  garden,  and  as  the 
management  of  a  dressed  grass  surface  is  still  a  somewhat  ill-under- 
stood subject  with  us,  some  of  our  readers  will,  perhaps,  be  giad  to 
receive  a  very  few  hints  on  this  subject. 

The  unrivalled  beauty  of  the  "velvet  lawns"  of  England  has  passed 
into  a  proverb.  This  is  undoubtedly  owing,  in  some  measure,  to  their 
superior  care  and  keeping,  but  mainly  to  the  highly  favorable  climate 
of  that  moist  and  sea-girt  land.  In  a  very  dry  climate  it  is  nearly 
impossible  to  preserve  tiiat  emerald  freshness  in  a  grass  surface,  that 
belongs  only  to  a  country  of  "  weeping  skies."  During  all  the  present 
season,  on  the  Hudson,  where  we  write,  the  constant  succession  of 
showers  has  given  us,  even  in  the  heat  of  midsummer,  a  softness  and 
verdure  of  lawn  that  can  scarcely  be  surpassed  in  any  climate  or 
country. 

Our  climate,  however,  is  in  the  middle  states  one  of  too  much  heat 
and  brilliancy  of  sun,  to  allow  us  to  keep  our  lawns  in  the  best  condi- 
tion without  considerable  care.  Beautifully  verdant  in  spring  and 
autumn,  they  are  often  liable  to  suffer  from  drought  in  midsummer. 
On  sandy  soils,  this  is  especially  the  case,  while  on  strong  loamy  soils, 
a  considerable  drought  will  be  endured  without  injury  to  the  good 
appearance  of  the  grass.  It  therefore  is  a  suggestion  worthy  of  the 
attention  of  the  lover  of  a  fine  lawn,  who  is  looking  about  for  a 
country  residence,  to  carefully  avoid  one  where  the  soil  is  sandy.  The 
only  remedy  in  such  a  soil  is  a  tedious  and  expensive  one,  that  of  con- 
stant and  plentiful  topdressing  with  a  compost  of  manure  and  heavy 
soil — marsh  mud — swamp  muck,  or  the  like.  Should  it  fortunately  be 
the  case  (which  is  very  rare)  that  the  sub-stratum  is  loamy,  deep 
plour^hing.  or  trenching,  by  bringing  up  and  mixing  with  the  light  sur- 
face soil  seme  of  the  heavier  earth  from  below,  will  speedily  tend  to 
remedy  the  evil. 

In  almost  all  cases  where  the  soil  is  of  good  strength,  a  permanent 
!avm  may  be  secured  by  preparing  the  soil  deeply  before  finally  laying 
i'.  down.     This   may  be   done   readily,  at  but  little  outlay,  by  deep 


,')26  APPENDIX. 

ploughing — a  good  and  chesp  substitute  for  trenching — that  is  to  say 
making  the  plough  follow  three  times  in  the  same  furrow.  This,  wi1h 
manure,  if  necessary,  will  secure  a  depth  of  soil  sufficient  to  allow  the 
roots  of  plants  to  strike  below  the  effects  of  a  surface  drought. 

In  sowing  a  lawn,  the  best  mixture  of  grasses  that  we  can  recom 
mend  for  this  climate,  is  a  mixture  of  Red-top  and  white  Clover — two 
natural  grasses  found  by  almost  every  roadside — in  the  proportion  of 
three  fourths  of  the  former,  to  one  of  the  latter. 

There  is  a  common  and  very  absurd  notion  current  (which  we  have 
several  times  practically  disproved),  that,  in  order  to  lay  down  a  lawn 
well,  it  is  better  to  sow  the  seed  along  with  that  of  some  grain  ;  thus, 
starving  the  growth  of  a  small  plant  by  forcing  it  to  grow  with  a 
larger  and  coarser  one.  A  whole  year  is  always  lost  by  this  process — 
indeed  more  frequently  two.  Many  trials  have  convinced  us  that  the 
proper  mode  is  to  sow  a  heavy  crop  of  grass  at  once,  and  we  advise 
him  who  desires  to  have  speedily  a  handsome  turf,  to  follow  the 
English  practice,  and  sow  three  to  four  bushels  of  seed  to  the  acre.  If 
this  is  done  early  in  the  spring,  he  will  have  a  lawn-like  surface  by 
mid-summer,  and  a  fine  close  turf  the  next  season. 

After  this,  the  whole  beauty  of  a  lawn  depends  on  frequent  mowing. 
Once  a  fortnight  at  the  furthest,  is  the  rule  for  all  portions  of  the  lawn 
in  the  neighborhood  of  the  house,  or  near  the  principal  walks.  A 
longer  growth  than  this  will  only  leave  yellow  and  coarser  stubble 
after  mowing,  instead  of  a  soft  velvet  surface.  A  broad-bladed  English 
scythe  (to  be  had  at  the  shops  of  the  seedsman),  set  nearly  parallel  to 
the  surface,  is  the  instrument  for  the  purpose,  and  with  it  a  clever 
mower  will  be  able  to  shave  within  half  an  inch  of  the  ground,  with- 
out leaving  any  marks.  To  free  the  surface  from  worm  casts,  etc.,  it 
is  a  common  practice  to  roll  the  previous  evening  as  much  as  may  be 
mown  the  next  day. 

As  the  neatness  of  a  well  kept  lawn  depends  mainly  upon  the  man- 
ner in  which  it  is  mown,  and  as  this  again  can  only  be  well  done  where 
there  are  no  inequalities  in  the  ground,  it  follows  that  the  surface 
should  be  kept  as  smooth  as  possible.  Before  sowing  a  lawn,  toe 
much  pains  cannot  be  taken  to  render  its  surface  smooth  and  even. 
After  this,  in  the  spring,  before  the  grass  starts,  it  should  be  examins.l, 


APPENDIX.  527 

a.id  all  Utile  holes  and  irregularities  filled  up,  and  the  same  should  be 
looked  over  at  any  annual  top-dressing  that  may  take  place.  The 
occasional  use  of  a  heavy  roller,  after  rain,  will  also  greatly  tend  to 
remedy  all  defects  of  this  nature. 

Where  a  piece  of  land  is  long  kept  in  lawn,  it  must  have  an  occa- 
sional top-dressing  every  two  or  three  years,  if  the  soil  is  rich,  or  every 
season,  if  it  is  poor.  As  early  as  possible  in  the  spring  is  the  best 
time  to  apply  such  a  top-dressing,  which  may  be  a  compost  of  any 
decayed  vegetable  or  animal  matter — heavier  and  more  abounding  with 
marsh  mud,  etc.,  just  in  proportion  to  the  natural  lightness  of  the  soil. 
Indeed  almost  every  season  the  lawn  should  be  looked  over,  all  weeds 
taken  out,  and  any  poor  or  impoverished  spots  plentifully  top-dressed, 
and,  if  necessary,  sprinkled  with  a  little  fresh  seed.  Wood  ashes, 
either  fresh  or  leached,  is  also  one  of  the  most  efficient  fertilizers  of  a 
lawn. 

We  can  already,  especially  in  the  finer  places  on  /he  Hudson,  and 
about  Boston,  boast  of  many  finely  kept  lawns,  and  we  hope  every 
day,  as  the  better  class  of  country  residences  increases,  to  see  this 
indispensable  feature  in  tasteful  grounds  becoming  better  understood 
and  more  universal. 


IV. 

Note  on  professional  quackery. 

Landscape  Gardening,  like  all  other  arts,  is  not  free  from  ignoraiu 
pretenders  to  knowledge,  who,  without  a  spark  of  appreciation  for  the 
beautiful  in  nature,  boldly  undertake  to  remodel,  in  what  they  consider 
a  tasteful  and  fashionable  style,  every  piece  of  natural  landscape, 
whether  of  a  simple  or  highly  picturesque  character.  They  succeed  in 
leaving  behind  them,  on  the  places  they  attempt  to  improve,  indubita- 
ble marks  of  their  footsteps,  in  a  sort  of  labored  case,  and  stilF 
striving  after  grace ;  but  they  are  pretty  certain,  also,  to  mar  or 
cbliterate  in  a  great  degree,  the  natural  charm  of  any  fine  situation. 
We  have  seen  one  or  two  examples  lately  where  a  foreign  soi-disant 
landscape  gardener  has  completely  spoiled  the  simple  grand  beauty  of 


528  APPENDIX. 

a  fine  river  residence,  by  cutting  up  the  breadth  of  a  fine  lawn  with  a 
ridiculous  etfort  at  what  he  considered  a  very  charming-  arranofement  of 
wallis  and  groups  of  trees.  In  this  case  he  only  followed  a  mode 
sufficiently  common  and  appropriate  in  a  level  inland  country,  like  that 
of  Germany,  from  whence  he  introduced  it,  but  entirely  out  of  keeping 
with  the  bold  and  lake-like  features  of  the  landscape  which  he  tliu3 
made  discordant. 

One  of  this  kind  of  improvers  was,  some  years  ago,  very  cleverly 
satirized  by  Mr.  Peacock,  an  English  reviewer  of  celebrity,  in  a  comic 
work  entitled  "  Headlong  Hall."  The  latter  is  the  name  of  the  sup- 
posed seat  of  Lord  Littlebrain,  who  has  assembled  around  liim  during 
the  Christmas  feastings  an  odd  party,  among  whom  is  Mr.  Milestone, 
the  landscape  gardener,  evidently  a  portrait  of  "  Capability  Brown." 
Mr.  Milestone  has  been  examining  the  estate,  and,  full  of  his  projected 
park,  is  e.xhibiting  his  portfolio  of  drawings  of  the  proposed  improve- 
ments to  his  host  and  some  of  the  guests. 

"  Mr.  Milestone. — This,  you  perceive,  is  the  natural  state  of  one 
part  of  the  grounds.  Here  is  a  wood,  never  yet  touched  by  the  finger 
of  taste ;  thick,  intricate,  and  gloomy.  Here  is  a  little  stream,  dash- 
ing from  stone  to  stone,  and  overshadowed  with  these  untriramed 
boughs. 

Miss  Tenorina. — The  sweet  romantic  spot !  How  beautifully  the 
birds  must  sing  there  on  a  summer  evening. 

Miss  Graziosa. — Dear  sister!  how  can  you  endure  the  horrid 
thicket  ? 

Mr.  Milestone. — You  are  right.  Miss  Graziosa ;  your  taste  is  correct, 
perfectly  en  regie.  Now,  here  is  the  same  place  corrected — trimmed — 
polished — decorated — adorned.  Here  sweeps  a  plantation,  in  that 
beautiful  regular  curve  ;  there  winds  a  gravel  walk  ;  here  are  parts  of 
the  old  wood,  left  in  these  majestic  circular  clumps  disposed  at  equal 
distances  with  wonderful  symmetry;  there  are  some  single  shrubs 
scattered  in  elegant  profusion;  here  a  Portugal  laurel,  there  a  juniper; 
here  a  laurustinus,  there  a  spruce  fir ;  here  a  larch,  there  a  lilac ;  here  a 
rhododendron,  there  an  arbutus.  The  stream,  you  see,  is  become  a 
canal :  the  banks  are  perfectly  smooth  and  green,  sloping  to  the  waters 
edge,  and  there  is  Lord  Littlebrain,  rowing  in  an  elegant  boat. 


ATPENUIX.  529 

.Squire  Headlong. — Magical,  faith  ! 

Mr.  Milestone. — Here  is  another  part  of  the  ground  in  its  natural 
state.  Here  is  a  large  rock,  with  the  mountain-ash  rooted  in  its  fissures, 
overgrown  as  you  see,  with  ivy  and  moss,  and  from  this  part  of  it 
bursts  a  little  fountain,  that  runs  bubbling  down  its  rugged  sides. 

Miss  Tenorina. — O  how  beautiful !  How  I  should  love  the  melody 
of  that  miniature  cascade  ! 

Mr.  Milestone. — Beautiful,  Miss  Tenorina !  Hideous.  Base,  com- 
mon, and  popular.  Such  a  thing  as  you  may  see  anywhere,  in  wild 
and  mountainous  districts.  Now,  observe  the  metamorphosis.  Here 
is  the  same  rock,  cut  into  the  shape  of  a  giant.  In  one  hand  he  holds 
a  horn,  through  which  the  little  fountain  is  thrown  to  a  prodigious 
elevation.  In  the  other  is  a  ponderous  stone,  so  exactly  balanced  as 
to  be  apparently  ready  to  fall  on  the  head  of  any  person  who  may 
happen  to  be  beneath,*  and  there  is  Lord  Littlebrain  walking  under  it. 

Squire  Headlong. — Miraculous,  by  Mahomet ! 

Mr.  Milestone. — This  is  the  summit  of  a  hill,  covered,  as  you 
perceive,  with  wood,  and  with  those  mossy  stones  scattered  at  random 
under  the  trees. 

Miss  Tenorina. — What  a  delightful  spot  to  read  in,  on  a  summer's 
day !  The  air  must  be  so  pure,  and  the  wind  must  sound  so  divinely 
in  the  tops  of  those  old  pines ! 

Mr.  Milestone. — Bad  taste.  Miss  Tenorina.  Bad  taste,  I  assure 
you.  Here  is  the  spot  improved.  The  trees  are  cut  down ;  the  stones 
are  cleared  away  ;  this  is  an  octagonal  pavilion,  exactly  on  the  centre 
of  the  summit,  and  there  you  see  Lord  Littlebrain,  on  the  top  of  the 
pavilion,  enjoying  the  prospect  with  a  telescope. 

Squire  Headlong. — Glorious,  egad  ! 

Mr.  Milestone. — Here  is  a  rugged,  mountainous  road,  leading 
through  impervious  shades ;  the  ass  and  the  four  goats  characterize  a 
wild  uncultured  scene.  Here,  as  you  perceive,  it  is  totally  changed 
into  a  beautiful  gravel  road,  gracefully  curving  through  a  belt  of  limes, 
and  there  is  Lord  Littlebrain  driving  four-in-hand. 

Squire  Headlong. — Egregious,  by  Jupiter ! 

Me.  Milestone. — Here  is  Littlebrain  Castle,  a  Gothic,  moss-grown 

«  See  Knight  on  Taste, 


530  APPENDIX. 

structure,  half-bosomed  in  trees.  Near  the  casement  of  that  turret 
is  an  owl  peeping  from  the  ivy. 

Squire  Headlong. — And  devilish  wise  he  looks. 

Mr.  Milestone. — Here  is  the  new  house,  without  a  tree  near  it, 
standing  in  the  midst  of  an  undulating  lawn ;  a  white,  polished 
angular  building,  reflected  to  a  nicety  in  this  waveless  lake,  and  there 
you  see  Lord  Littlebrain  looking  out  of  the  window." 


Note  on  Walks  and  Roads. 


In  our  remarks  on  walks  and  roads,  we  omitted  to  say  anything  of 
the  best  manner  of  making  gravel  walks.  We  may  here  state  that, 
where  it  can  easily  be  procured,  pure  pit  gravel  is  preferable  to  all 
other  materials  for  this  purpose,  as  it  binds  almost  at  once,  and  becomes 
a  firm  and  solid  mass  nearly  as  hard  as  a  stone  floor.  Beach  gravel, 
not  having  any  mixture  of  loamy  particles,  does  not  become  hard 
until  after  a  good  deal  of  rolling,  and  a  little  loam  is  often  mixed  with 
it  to  secure  its  tenacity  and  firmness.  A  very  thin  coat  of  gravel  will 
render  a  walk  superior  to  a  path  which  consists  only  of  the  natural 
soil,  and  such  surfacing,  in  our  dry  climate  (though  it  frequently  re- 
quires renewing),  is  often  sufficient  for  distant  walks,  or  those  little 
used  except  in  fine  weather.  But  the  approach  road,  and  all  walks  imme- 
diately about  the  dwelling,  should  be  laid  at  least  a  foot  thick  with 
gravel,  to  insure  dryness,  and  a  firm  fooling  at  all  times  and  seasons. 
The  lower  six  inches  is  better  executed  when  filled  with  small  stones 
— placing  the  six  inches  of  gravel  on  the  top  of  these,  and  there  are 
few  new  places  where  this  is  not  a  convenient  mode  of  getting  rid  of  the 
small  stones  that  require  to  be  taken  out  of  the  gardens,  and  various 
parts  of  tlie  premises  undergoing  improvement. 

A  word  may  be  said  here  with  regard  to  the  color  of  gravel.  Un- 
doubtedly in  almost  all  examples  in  the  natural  style  cf  landscape 
gardening  slate-colored  gravel,  the  kind  common  in  nearly  all  parts  of 
the  country,  is  much  the  most  agreeable  to  the  eye,  being  unobtrusive 
just  differing  sufficiently   with  the  soil  to  be  readily  recognised  as 


APPENDIX.  631 

mtistical  in  its  effect,  while  it  harmonizes  with  the  color  of  the  ground, 
and  the  sofi  tints  of  vegetation.  A  thirst  after  something  new  has 
induced  some  persons,  even  in  the  interior,  to  substitute,  at  considera- 
ble cost,  thvj  white  gravel  of  the  sea-shore  for  the  common  pit  or 
beach  gravel.  The  change,  we  think,  is,  in  point  of  taste,  not  a  happy 
<}ne.  The  strong  white  of  this  gravel,  as  the  painters  would  say, 
disturbs  the  tone  of  a  simply  beautiful  landscape,  whose  prevailing  tints 
are  those  of  the  broad  lawn  and  rich  overshadowing  trees ;  and  the 
glare  of  these  snowy  white  pebbles  is  not,  we  confess,  so  pleasing  in 
our  eyes  as  the  cooler  and  more  quiet  color  of  the  slate  or  grey 
gravel.  Wlien  we  add  to  this,  that  these  sea-side  pebbles  seldom  ot 
never  pack  or  become  firm,  it  would  appear  very  evident  that  they  aro 
far  less  suitable  for  walks  than  the  common  material.  The  only  situsu- 
tion  where  this  brilliant  gravel  seems  to  us  perfectly  in  keeping,  is  in 
the  highly  artificial  garden  of  the  ancient  or  geometric  style,  or  in  the 
«ymmetrical  terrace  flower  garden  adjoining  the  house.  In  these 
instances  its  striking  appearance  is  in  excellent  keeping  with  the 
expression  of  all  the  surrounding  objects,  and  it  renaers  more  forcible 
and  striking  the  highly  artificial  and  artistical  character  of  the  scene, 
and  to  such  situations  we  would  gladly  see  its  use  limited. 

The  labor  and  expense  of  keeping  the  roads  and  walks  clean,  and 
free  from  weeds,  in  a  place  of  large  extent  (and  some  of  our  seats 
have  now  several  miles  of  private  roads  and  walks  within  their  own 
limits),  is  a  very  considerable  item  of  the  annual  outlay  of  a  country 
residence.  At  a  recent  visit  to  Blit-hewood,  we  saw  in  operation  there 
a  very  simple  implement,  invented  by  R.  Donaldson,  Esq.,  the  intelli- 
gent proprietor  of  that  beautiful  place,  which  promises  to  be  of  ina- 
portant  service  as  a  labor-saving  machine  in  cleaiung  roads  and  walks. 
In  Fig.  20  is  shown  a  sketch  of  this  implement,  in  use.  In  general 
appearance  it  is  not  unlike  the  frame  of  a  wheelbarrow,  except  that 
instead  of  the  two  legs  it  has  two  iron  bars,  reaching  down  to  the 
earth,  and  connecting  with  a  transverse  blade,  about  three  inches 
wide,  which  is  set  nearly  parallel  with  the  ground.  The  handles  of 
the  implement  are  held  by  a  workman,  like  those  of  the  common 
double-tailed  plough,  while  the  horse  which  draws  it  is  led  or  ridden 
hv  a  boy.     With  this  implement,  which  is  three  and  a  half  feet  wide 


532 


APPENDIX 


all  the  weeds  in  the  space  it  covers  are  cleared  from  a  road  or  walk  aa 
rapidly  as  a  horse  can  walk  forward,  and  it  is  only  necessary  to  follow 
with  a  rake  and  remove  the  weeds,  and  the  whole  is  in  good  order. 

On  the  lower  portion  of  the  upright  bars,  where  they  rise  from  the 
blade,  there  is  an  edge  for  cutting  the  turf  on  the  sides  of  the  walk, 
which  performs  its  work  very  well  and  rapidly — the  horse  being  care- 
fully led;  and  it  will,  no  doubt,  answer  perfectly  for  this  purpose,  m 
all  those  walks  and  roads  not  directly  around  tlie  house,  or  where  the 
greatest  nicety  is  not  required 

_- — -=^:^==-  The  simplicity   o! 

this  machine,  the  very 
small  cost  at  which 
it  is  made,  and  the 
:^i-eat  saving  of  ex- 
pense and  labor 
wliich  it  secures  will, 
we  think,  render  it  a 
valuable  acquisition 
to  all  owners  of  large 
places,   or  to  tiiose 

*"!"  20.    Inipleinent  inuse  it  Blithcwood  for  cleaning 

gr  i^  el  road>  ]  Wishing  to  keep  up  a 

long  series  of  private  roads  and  walks  in  the  picturesque  manner.  For 

smaller  gardens  and   grounds,  where  the  most  scrupulous  nicety  is 

observed,  there  is,  of  course,  nothing  that  will  supersede  the  common 

noe,  rake,  and  roller. 


THE    ENP. 


GENERAL    INDEX. 


AJiuond,  Its  history,  propagation,  soil,  hardiijood,  cultivation  and  uses,  page  45;  varieties,  46 
Analysis  of  the  apple,  58;  of  the  grape,  240;  of  the  peach,  264;  of  the  pear,  800:   of  th« 
strawberry,  453.  r      i         >  • 

Appendix,  469. 

Apricot,  its  history,  propagation,  47 ;  soil  and  diseases,  stocks,  uses,  varieties,  43. 

Apple-borer,  60 ;  moth,  61. 

Apple,  its  history,  profits  of  growing,  annual  planting  west,  53;  duration  of,  fruit,  bearing  age 
of,  propagation  by  seed,  54;  modes  of  grafting,  budding,  55;  by  layers,  cuttings,  cutting 
of  scions,  selection  of  trees  from  nursery,  influence  of  climate,  location,  56;  influence  of 
stock,  hardihood,  bearing  increased  by  budding  or  grafting,  transplanting  and  distance, 
57;  soil  and  manures,  58;  cultivation,  pruning,  insects  and  diseases,  59;  remedies  for,  61; 
terms  used  in  description,  62  ;  forms,  63 ;  meaning  of  terms,  uses,  varieties,  64. 

Aphis,  woolly,  62. 

Barry,  P.,  30,  63. 

Bark  Louse,  61. 

Blackberry,  its  culture  and  varieties,  181. 

Sudding,  shield,  22 ;  annular,  23. 

Canker-worm,  its  habits,  60;  to  destroy,  61 

Caterpillar,  to  destroy,  60. 

Cappe  on  pruning,  304. 

Cherry,  its  history,  182;  for  street  planting,  propagation  by  seed,  183;  budding,  time  when, 
grafting,  time  when,  modes,  to  grow  from  roots,  transplanting,  184 ;  distance  apart,  stan- 
dard trees,  dwarf  trees,  soil  and  situation,  185;  cultivation  in  nursery,  in  orchard,  prun- 
ing and  training,  186;  to  protect,  insects  and  diseases,  uses,  187;  gathering  fruit,  classifi- 
cation, engravings,  185;  varieties,  189. 

Curculio,  its  habits,  description  of,  406;  preventive  remedies  for,  407 
Curl,  of  leaf  in  peach  trees,  267. 
Cross-breeding,  to  obtain  new  varieties,  21. 

Currant,  its  history,  propagation,  transplanting,  soil  and  situation,  221 ;  culture,  pruning,  insects, 

uses,  222;  varieties,  223. 

Cuttings,  how  to  make,  to  plant,  26. 

Dwarf  trees,  of  the  cherry,  185 ;  of  the  pear,  306. 

Duration  of  varieties,  88. 

Dubreil  on  pruning,  33. 

Fruitfulness  promoted  by  root-pruning,  82. 

Fruit,  history  of,  15 ;  west,  16 ;  value  as  food,  19 ;  varieties,  origin  of,  20 ;  propagation  of,  bud- 
ding, 22;  grafting,  24;  degeneracy  of,  limited  age  of,  influence  of  soils  on,  88;  influence 
of  stocks,  climate,  39 ;  gathering,  time  when,  how,  40 ;  room  for  keeping,  41 ;  cellars 
for,  44. 

Grafting,  whip  or  tongue,  splice,  crown,  saddle,  side,  24;  cleft,  wax,  25. 

Graft*,  to  restore,  to  preserve,  to  send  by  mail,  wrapping  or  tying,  25. 

Gooseberry,  its  history,  book  of,  numbers  of,  where  successful,  propagation  by  seed,  224;  cut- 
tings, grafting,  transplanting,  soil  and  situation,  culture,  priming,  227;  mildew  and  reme- 
dies, uses,  varieties,  228. 

Grape,  American.  Classes,  history,  immense  vines  of,  vineyards,  231 ;  movable  frame  for, 
method  of  suspending,  48 ;  among  the  ancients,  232 ;  propagation  of,  284;  transplanting, 
cost  of  vineyard  per  acre,  position  and  soil  for,  235;  preparing  ground,  pruning  and  train- 
ing, 23G ;  analyses  of,  insects,  «&c.,  240 ;  uses,  241 ;  ripening,  gathering,  &c.,  242 ;  varie- 
ties, 243. 

Grape,  Foreign.  History,  success  of,  propagation,  249;  cold-houses  for,  250;  vine  borders^ 
planting  and  training,  251 ;  routine  of  culture,  insects,  varieties,  252 . 


GENERAL   INDEX. 

noa(ll(!y,  George,  17,  250. 
nybridizing,  20. 
Introductory  remarks,  15. 

lusects  injurious  to  the  apple,  60;  to  the  cherry,  187;  to  the  currant,  222;  to  the  grape,  240  ; 

to  the  peach,  267;  to  the  pear,  305;  to  the  plum,  i04;  to  the  quince,  435. 
Kennicott  on  Fruits  in  Illinois,  18 ;  on  their  uses,  19. 
FCnots  or  warts  on  the  plum,  404 
Kirtland,  J.  P.,  17,  20. 
Layers  of  shrubs,  of  the  grape,  26. 
Labels  of  wood,  of  zinc,  36 ;  of  tin,  37. 
Manures,  for  the  apple,  58;  for  transplanting,  28;  for  the  grape,  240;  for  the  peach,  264;  for 

the  pear,  300 ;  for  the  plum,  404 ;  for  the  quince,  432  ;  for  the  strawberry,  452. 

Mice,  to  deter  from  girdling  trees,  23. 

Mildew,  on  the  gooseberry,  228 ;  on  the  grape,  240  ;  on  the  peach,  26S. 

Mulching  newly-planted  trees,  29. 

Nectarine,  history  ot,  varieties,  256. 

Packing  trees,  29. 

Peach,  history  of,  propagation,  261 ;  transplanting,  soil  and  situation,  263 ;  analyses  of,  264 ;  prun- 
ing, 266;  characters,  269;  use^,  270;  preserving  fresh,  271 ;  varieties,  272. 

Pear,  history  of,  propagation,  297 ;  hardihood,  stocks  for,  29S ;  transplanting,  selection  of  trees, 
299;  soil  and  m.anures,  analyses,  300;  pruning,  301;  insects  and  diseases,  306 ;  selection 
of  varieties  on  quince,  gathering  and  uses,  806 ;  varieties  and  forms,  307. 

Preface,  iv. 

Planting,  how  to  be  done,  2S. 

Plum,  history  of,  propagation,  402;  transplanting,  soil  and  situation,  pruning,  408;  cultivation, 
manures,  diseases,  404;  Insects,  405;  uses,  497;  characters,  varieties,  409 

Prunes,  how  to  dry,  408. 

Praning,  30;  to  remove  large  branches  at  time  of  transplantins,  31 ;  the  roots,  to  induce  fruit- 
ing, 32 ;  its  theory  and  principles,  to  form  particular  shapes.  33 ;  the  apple,  59 ;  the  cherry, 
186 ;  the  currant,  222 ;  the  goosc-borry,  227 ;  the  grape,  23t5 ;  the  peach,  266. 

Quince,  history  of,  propagation,  431;  soil,  situation,  transplanting,  pruning,  432;   insects,  uses, 

433 ;  varieties,  434." 
Eabbits,  to  prevent  from  girdling  trees,  23. 
Easpbt-rry,  history  of,  propagation,  soil  for,  437;  pruning  and  training,  insects,  438;  protection 

for,  uses,  profits  of,  autumn  fruiting,  439 ;  classification  and  varieties,  440. 
Kivers  on  pruning,  301. 
Runners,  when  to  remove,  26. 
Eust  on  the  apple  leaf,  62. 

Soil  for  trees,  how  to  prepare,  27 ;  influence  of,  88. 
Stocks.  Influence  of,  39;  for  grafting  or  budding  on,  55 
Step-ladders,  40. 

Strawberry,  history  of,  propagation,  446 ;  fertile  and  barren,  447 ;  varieties,  448 ;  soil  and  situation, 
449 ;  season  to  transplant,  450 ;  culture  of,  451 ;  manures  for,  4V2 :  analysis  of,  453. 

Suckers,  27. 

Seedlings,  their  tendency,  20. 

Sea  spray,  its  effects  on  mildew  in  grape,  250. 

Thomas,  J.  J.,  21. 

Training,  varied  forms  of,  86. 

Trees  girdled.  23;  transplanting,  soil  for,  27;  super-phosphate  of  lime  for,  28;  how  to  plant,  28; 

time  when,  29;  packing,  care  of  when  received,  29;  pruning,  30;  training,  85;  labels  for, 

36;  protection  of,  against  mice,  rabbits,  form  most  c.fi.sirable,  37. 

Varieties,  introduced  to  Ohio,  17;  Illinois  and  Wisconsin,  18;  origin  of;  propagation,  20 ;  to 

produce  new,  21. 
Vinery,  cheap  mode  of  building,  250 
Vineyards,  cost  of,  per  acre,  236. 


